Police Denies Having Banned Opening Of Coffins, Family Lawyer Brigadier J: There Is A Video Record, Evidence

The attorney for Brigadier J's family, Kamaruddin Simanjuntak, gives a statement after making a report at the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police, Monday, July 18. (Antara-M Risal)

JAKARTA - The attorney for the family of Nopryansah Yosua Hutabarat alias Brigadier J stated that he had evidence in the form of a videotape regarding the Police who had forbidden to open the coffin.

The statement was intended to respond to the Police's objection to this matter.

"The question of denying that, can't be refuted with electronic recordings, because there are electronic recordings that prohibit them from being excluded from there," said Brigadier J's family lawyer, Kamaruddin Simanjuntak to reporters, Wednesday, July 20.

In addition, Kamaruddin also said that the video footage he had showed clearly that the family asked for the coffin to be opened. However, the police still forbid it.

"(The family asked, ed) Open it, but it was not opened either, instead it was forbidden to open it. That is an act of undeniable evidence," said Kamaruddin.

The Main Investigator of the National Police Propam Division, Kombes Leonardo Simatupang, denied that he had forbidden the family to open the casket of Brigadier J.

"It is not true that there is a prohibition (forbidding opening the coffin, red)," said Leonardo.

Leo confirmed that he was the one who led the process of handing over the body to the family at that time. Thus, it is certain that there is no prohibition against the family of Brigadier J.

"I was never there to forbid opening the chest, because it's not good for the family to see, we have family too," said Leo.