A String of Violence Cases: From Aipda Robig in Semarang to Bripda MS in Tual
A number of Indonesian National Police (Polri) officers have been involved in cases of violence across various regions, drawing significant public attention. The violent incidents committed by members of the Bhayangkara Corps have resulted in civilian deaths.
The following is a summary of several cases of violence involving police officers over the past year.
The Aipda Robig Case
Semarang Metropolitan Police narcotics unit officer Aipda Robig Zainudin was involved in a shooting that killed a vocational school student named Gamma Rizkynata Oktafandy (17) in Semarang, Central Java. The incident occurred in November 2024.
The shooting took place whilst Gamma and his companions were riding a motorcycle in the Jalan Candi Penataran area of Semarang in the early hours of Sunday, 24 November 2024. Gamma was killed, whilst two of his companions were wounded by gunfire.
Initially, Commissioner Irwan Anwar, who was then serving as Semarang Metropolitan Police Chief, claimed the shooting occurred when Robig was attempting to disperse a gang brawl and was attacked by brawlers carrying bladed weapons.
However, Central Java Regional Police Professional and Security Division Head Commissioner Aris Supriyono gave a different account. He stated the shooting occurred when Aipda Robig was pursuing a suspected traffic violator, which led to the incident.
As a consequence, Robig was sentenced to dismissal with dishonour (PTDH). However, the dismissal process has yet to be carried out as it awaits administrative procedures and the progress of legal remedies being pursued by the officer.
Robig was also subject to criminal proceedings and named a suspect. He was charged under Article 338 of the Criminal Code for murder and Article 351 for assault causing death.
The panel of judges at Semarang District Court sentenced Robig to 15 years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rp200 million, with a subsidiary sentence of one month’s detention.
The Affan Kurniawan Case
A ride-hailing driver named Affan Kurniawan was killed after being run over by a Brimob tactical vehicle during a wave of protests in Jakarta in August 2025.
Affan was crushed by the tactical vehicle in the Pejompongan area of Central Jakarta. At the time, Affan was reportedly delivering a food order when the unrest surrounding the parliamentary allowances protest spilled into the Pejompongan area.
The incident sparked public outrage. Fellow ride-hailing drivers and local residents descended on the Brimob headquarters in Kwitang, Central Jakarta.
In the aftermath, seven Brimob officers were subjected to disciplinary proceedings for code of ethics violations. They were: Regiment 4 Battalion Commander of the Brimob Corps Commissioner Cosmas Kaju Gae, Brigadier Rohmat, Adjutant Inspector M Rohyani, Corporal Danang, Corporal Mardin, Private Baraka Jana Edi, and Private Baraka Yohanes David.
In the ethics hearing, Cosmas was sentenced to dismissal. Rohmat, the driver of the tactical vehicle, received a demotion. The remaining five officers, who were passengers in the vehicle, were ordered to issue a formal apology.
Beyond the ethics proceedings, the case was also investigated as a criminal matter handled by the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim). However, no further developments in the criminal process have been reported to date.
The ULM Student Murder Case
Banjarbaru Police public order unit officer Bripda Muhammad Seili was named a suspect in the murder of Universitas Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) student Zahra Dilla (20) in December 2025.
South Kalimantan Regional Police revealed that Seili committed the murder in a state of panic, as the victim had allegedly threatened to inform Seili’s fiancée that the two had been in an intimate relationship.
Seili was charged under Article 338 of the Criminal Code for murder and Article 365 for theft with violence, carrying maximum sentences of 20 years and 9 years’ imprisonment respectively.
Seili was also dismissed with dishonour (PTDH) by the panel of judges in the Police Code of Ethics Commission hearing.
The Bripda MS Case
Brimob Company 1 Pelopor Battalion C officer Bripda Mesias Siahaya (MS) was involved in an act of assault that killed AT (14), a student at MTS Negeri Maluku Tenggara.
MS was named a suspect and charged under Article 35 in conjunction with Article 14 of the amendment to Law Number 23 of 2002 on Child Protection, as well as Article 474 paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code.
The incident began when a Brimob patrol was conducting a security operation using a tactical vehicle in the Tual City and Southeast Maluku Regency areas in the early hours of Thursday, 19 February.
The patrol was initially stationed at the Mangga Dua Complex in Langgur until approximately 02:00 Eastern Indonesian Time, before moving to Fiditan Village in Tual City after receiving a report from residents regarding an alleged assault near the Tete Pancing area.
Upon arriving at the location, the suspect and several fellow officers dismounted from the vehicle and carried out security measures. Approximately 10 minutes later, two motorcycles were travelling at high speed from the direction of Ngadi towards Tete Pancing.
The suspect reportedly swung a tactical helmet as a signal. However, the helmet struck the right temple of the victim, AT (14), causing the victim to fall from the motorcycle face down.
The victim was rushed to Karel Sadsuitubun Regional Hospital in Langgur for medical treatment. However, at 13:00 Eastern Indonesian Time, the victim was pronounced dead.
MS was also sentenced to dismissal after being found guilty of violating the police professional code of ethics. In response to the ruling, MS stated he was still considering whether to file an appeal.