Questionable tactics for interrogation

JAKARTA: Police in Indonesia’s Papua province have apologised after interrogators used a snake during an attempt to extract a confession from a suspected cellphone thief, a spokesman said yesterday.

A video circulating online showed police in Jayawijaya district wrapping a snake around the neck of the suspect as they questioned him. A policeman could be heard asking the suspect: “How many times have you stolen a cellphone?” The man cowered and screamed in fear.

Papuan police spokesman Suryadi Diaz said the snake was tame and was kept as a pet at the Jayawijaya police station for some time to scare drunkards, who often caused trouble.

A lawyer who advocates for human rights in Papua, Veronica Koman said police often used snakes while interrogating Papuans.