Indonesian police have apologised for using a snake to terrify a thief in Papua

News24xx.com -  A video was circulating about a thief that was interrogated by a number of police officers using snakes in Indonesia.

As quoted from the Twitter account @VeronicaKoman on Friday, February 8 2019, the video was took place in Wamena, Papua. And the interrogation was carried out by Sam Lokon, a member of the West Papua National Committee (KNPB).

At that time, officers in the video laugh as an interrogator drapes the animal on a screaming, handcuffed man in the eastern Papua region. The suspect was believed to have stolen mobile phones. A voice in the video reportedly threatens to put the snake in the man's mouth and down his trousers.

The local police chief said it was unprofessional but defended the practice, saying the snake was tame and non-venomous.

And now police have apologised for using a snake to terrify a suspected thief after footage appeared online.

"We have taken stern action against the personnel," Tonny Ananda Swadaya reportedly said in a statement, adding that the officers had not physically beaten the man.

Human rights lawyer Veronica Koman tweeted footage of the event, claiming officers had recently put a pro-Papua independence activist in a cell with a snake.

Reports of human rights abuses are common from Papua, where separatists have long sought independence from Indonesia.

 

 

 

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