Island focus: Police use snake to interrogate Papuan - Jakarta Post

The Papua Police have apologized for wrapping a snake around a native Papuan they suspected of theft.

A video of the incident, which took place while the police were interrogating the suspect, has been circulating online.

The officers involved in the incident are currently being investigated for ethical violations, said Papua Police spokesman Ahmad Mustofa Kamal. "We apologize for that incident," he said in a statement on Friday, as quoted by kompas.com.

Jannus P. Siregar, who heads the Papua Police's internal affairs division (Propam), said the officers were using the snake to intimidate the suspect so that he would confess to the crime.

The incident reportedly took place in Wamena, Jayawijaya.

Jayawijaya Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Tonny Ananda Swadaya promised that his men would work professionally. "We have taken action against the officers...