Aftermath of Bripda Dirja's Assault: Senior Officer Named Suspect

JAKARTA — South Sulawesi Provincial Police (Polda Sulsel) have confirmed that the death of Bripda Dirja Saputra (19 years old) was caused by assault. South Sulawesi Police Chief Inspector General Djuhandani Rahardjo Puro stated that a preliminary investigation has led to one police officer, identified as Bripda P, being named a suspect. The suspect is a senior colleague of the victim.

An internal team from South Sulawesi Police is currently still examining five other officers in connection with the assault. “We are confident this was assault. Through the hard work of the Professional and Security Division (Propam) and the General Criminal Investigation Directorate, we were able to prove that assault had taken place,” Djuhandani said in a video press statement received by journalists in Jakarta on Monday (23/2/2026).

“At present, we have detained one suspect, identified as P, holding the rank of Bripda,” Djuhandani added. The examination process is still ongoing, with five other police officers still being questioned.

Djuhandani explained that the initial investigation into the case stemmed from an internal report. He said the initial report stated that Bripda Dirja Saputra had died from self-inflicted injuries. “The initial report we received stated that the individual (Dirja Saputra) had died from repeatedly hitting his own head. That was the first account we heard based on the report,” Djuhandani said. However, he added that the internal team did not believe the report.

The internal team then conducted an investigation, including direct inspections at the scene. The team also examined witnesses one by one, as well as those who filed the report. The police also carried out an autopsy.

“We did not simply accept the report from the officers stating that the victim had hit his own head. After conducting examinations, including by the Medical Division, we found several bruises which we believe are consistent with assault,” Djuhandani said.

After gathering evidence and witness testimonies, the investigation found corroborating evidence that the victim had died as a result of assault. “Based on the evidence, we have named one suspect, who is a senior colleague of the victim,” Djuhandani said. Bripda P, who has been officially announced as a suspect, continues to be examined alongside five other colleagues. “The other five are all from the same intake year,” Djuhandani said.

Bripda Dirja died at the South Sulawesi Police dormitory. After the body was handed over to the family, the victim’s parents became suspicious upon noticing that the body was bleeding from the mouth. The parents then reported concerns regarding their son’s death. However, the initial explanation given by the police stated that Bripda Dirja had died from repeatedly hitting his own head. Following the exposure of the case, it was revealed that the victim had been subjected to assault by his senior colleagues.