KontraS Condemns South Jakarta Metro Police For The Death Of Freddy Nicolaus

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JAKARTA - The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) condemned the attitude of the South Jakarta (South Jakarta) Metro Police regarding the death of Freddy Nicolaus while serving his prison term.

The KontraS Working Agency, Rivanlee Anandar, found new facts based on the testimony of the witnesses he found. Rivanlee said that when the victim was arrested in Bali on December 16, 2021 and processed by the South Jakarta Metro Police, the victim admitted that she often received acts of violence and abuse.

In addition, Rivanlee said, victims often received extortion while serving their detention period at the South Jakarta Metro Police. This, he continued, was proven when Freddy often contacted his family or relatives to ask for money.

"It is evident that the victim often contacts her family and relatives to ask for a sum of money for the purpose of paying for the 'room'," said Rivanlee in a written statement, Friday, April 1.

Rivanlee explained that Freddy is HIV positive and takes heart medication every day. While in detention, Rivanlee said, he was rushed to the hospital, because his health condition was declining until he died on January 13, 2021.

However, the death raised suspicion for Rivanlee because of the visible scars found all over his body.

“There are abrasions such as peeling skin behind the back and right arm, some parts of the chest turn blue. The shin of the left leg is black and bruised, and around it there are many round scars that are just starting to dry out," he said.

"The connecting bone to the little finger of the left foot looks broken and goes inside plus the wound at the tip of the nail looks like something was stepped on," he added.

Therefore, Rivanlee suspected that there was an act of torture against the victim. In addition, there is an element of negligence on the part of the South Jakarta Metro Police.

"We indicate that there has been an act of torture against the victim. Not only acts of torture, but also the negligence of the South Jakarta Police in providing special care for detainees who are seriously ill," he said.

On that occasion, Rivanlee urged the South Jakarta Police and the Metro Jaya Police to thoroughly investigate the alleged torture experienced by Freddy.

In addition, he also urged the National Human Rights Commission (HAM) to conduct an in-depth and thorough investigation of this alleged torture incident.

"The National Police Commissioner must independently carry out direct monitoring of the investigation into this incident and provide recommendations that will be issued later to have pressure on the ongoing legal process and fulfill the rights of the victim's family," he said.