House Committee Pressures Police to Investigate Murder of Port Activist in Bekasi
A member of the Indonesian House of Representatives Commission III, Abdullah, has urged the National Police to conduct a thorough investigation into the murder case of Ermanto Usman (65), a former employee of Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT). Ermanto was found dead at his home in Bekasi City on Monday, 2 March 2026. Abdullah believes the police must handle this case with transparency because the victim was known as an activist who exposed alleged corruption practices within the port sector.
“This incident must be thoroughly investigated. The police must determine whether this case is merely a robbery accompanied by assault or whether there are elements of premeditated murder against a victim who has been known to be critical and outspoken,” said Abdullah in a written statement issued on Monday, 9 March 2026.
The PKB politician requested that law enforcement conduct a prompt investigation in a professional manner to prevent public speculation. He also urged investigators to objectively examine various possible motives behind Ermanto’s murder.
“The police must be able to reveal who the perpetrators are and also the masterminds behind this murder. Law enforcement must be carried out firmly and transparently,” said the politician, commonly known as Gus Abduh.
Should evidence of premeditated murder be discovered, Abdullah stated, law enforcement officials must punish the perpetrators without exception. According to Abdullah, law enforcement must apply equally to all individuals, so perpetrators should not receive protection or special treatment.
“Resolving this case is important to provide justice for the victim’s family whilst maintaining public confidence in law enforcement,” he said.
The Metropolitan Jakarta Police Department assured that it would investigate the alleged murder behind Ermanto Usman’s death and the assault against the victim’s wife. Investigators continue to examine all leads related to the case.
“All necessary information is being examined to assist investigators,” said the head of the Metropolitan Jakarta Police Department’s Public Relations Division, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, in a written statement on Friday, 6 March 2026.
Budi stated that police have not yet been able to identify the number or identities of the perpetrators responsible for the death of the deceased. This is because such matters remain under investigation.
Ermanto’s brother, Dalsaf Usman, expressed suspicion that his brother’s death was a premeditated murder. “There are such suspicions, especially when linked to the deceased’s role as an activist,” said Dalsaf on Monday, 3 March 2026.
According to Dalsaf, his brother had recently been actively uncovering alleged corruption cases in the port sector, specifically at Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) and Indonesian Port Corporation (Persero) II. “We have asked the police to investigate this as well,” said Dalsaf.
The deceased Ermanto had previously been a source in the Madilog podcast. In one of the podcast episodes, Ermanto exposed alleged irregularities relating to the extension of the JICT contract with Hong Kong-based Hutchison Port Holding (HPH).