Condemnation Mounts Over Fatal Mob Attack on Chicken Thief in Tabanan

A mob attack on a man with the initials KD, who was suspected of stealing chickens in Banjar Dinas Juwuk Legi, Baturiti District, Tabanan, Bali, has drawn sharp criticism. The incident, which resulted in KD’s death, is now under investigation. The case has prompted responses from various parties, including the Ministry of Human Rights (KemenHAM), the village government, and the police, all of whom have stressed that alleged criminal acts should be resolved through legal channels, not vigilante justice. KemenHAM has condemned the mob attack that killed KD. The Ministry’s Coordinator for the Bali Working Region, Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Dalem, expressed condolences over the incident. ‘We offer our deepest sympathies for this event,’ Dalem said. He stated that every citizen is entitled to legal protection, and therefore, anyone suspected of a crime must be handed over to law enforcement officials to be processed according to the law. In addition to condemning the mob attack, KemenHAM has urged that the case be handled professionally and accountably. ‘We also encourage that the legal process be carried out professionally, transparently, and accountably to provide legal certainty and a sense of justice for all parties,’ Dalem said. The KemenHAM Bali Working Region also stated it will monitor the handling of the case and coordinate with stakeholders to ensure the legal process respects human rights principles. Senator Ni Luh Jelantik, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from Bali, expressed her sadness seeing the victim’s children lose their father. She strongly condemned the mob attack that took a life. ‘I strongly condemn this mob attack. Regardless of the allegation that the victim stole a chicken, there is no justification for taking the law into one’s own hands to the point of taking a life,’ Jelantik said. She highlighted the plight of the victim’s wife and children, who have lost a husband and father due to the tragic event. She emphasised that violence never solves problems. ‘A wife has lost her husband, children have lost their father. And now they must live with deep-seated trauma from this incident,’ she stated. Jelantik fully supports the police in thoroughly investigating the case and demands that all perpetrators be processed legally. ‘All perpetrators must be processed under the law and held accountable for their actions,’ she stressed. The Head of Sidatapa Village, I Made Sutama, also regretted the incident that killed one of his residents. Sutama said that regardless of the alleged violation, the resolution must be pursued through legal mechanisms. ‘If someone is guilty, report them to the authorities. Do not take the law into your own hands and take a life just because of a stolen chicken,’ Sutama said. The police are currently investigating two aspects of the case: the alleged chicken theft and the mob attack that led to KD’s death. ‘Investigators are currently looking into two main aspects of the case, namely the alleged crime of chicken theft and the mob incident that followed,’ said Baturiti Police Chief Kompol I Nyoman Darsana. He appealed to the public not to engage in vigilante actions when encountering suspected criminal acts. ‘The public is urged to immediately report any incident to the police so it can be handled according to legal mechanisms, thereby maintaining public security and order,’ Darsana stressed. Police have named five residents as suspects in the mob attack on KD. The five suspects have the initials MJ, WS, KB, ML, and ND. Tabanan Police Chief AKBP I Putu Bayu Pati said the determination of the five suspects was based on the results of examinations and intensive interrogations at the Baturiti Police Station. ‘After interrogation, we named five male suspects as the perpetrators of the mob attack,’ Bayu Pati said during a press conference. In addition to securing the five suspects, police also seized evidence including clothing belonging to the suspects, an iron rod, and a bamboo pole believed to have been used to beat the victim to death. The Ministry of Human Rights is also pushing for the victim’s family, especially the children, to receive psychological support and protection of their rights. The Buleleng Regency Government, through its Social Service, Women’s Empowerment, and Child Protection Agency (Dinsos P3A), along with related agencies, has visited the family’s home to ensure they receive assistance. The Head of Dinsos P3A Buleleng, I Putu Kariaman Putra, said a team of psychologists will be deployed to help with the recovery of the victim’s children. ‘Tomorrow we will conduct outreach with a psychologist to assist the children and the family concerned,’ Kariaman said.