Hurt by 'Kampungan' Insults, Student in Kupang Stabs Teacher While Sleeping

Police have revealed the reason a student with the initials A (16) stabbed his teacher, Soleman Malo alias Eman (27), at the dormitory of SMK Pelayaran in Lasiana Village, Kelapa Lima District, Kupang City, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).

To investigators, A admitted he carried out the attack because he was hurt after being repeatedly called ‘kampungan’ (uncouth) by Eman. The victim’s remarks also touched on A’s parents and his hometown in Alor.

“The perpetrator was often called uncouth, and his parents and hometown in Alor were insulted, which made him deeply hurt,” said Kota Lama Police Chief AKP Zainal Arifin Abdurahman on Friday, 14 August 2026.

The remarks led A to harbour resentment until he finally attacked Eman while the victim was sleeping in one of the school dormitory rooms on the night of Wednesday, 12 August 2026.

A approached the victim’s room with his face covered using a sports shirt.

He knocked on the door while calling out to Eman several times. After that, A broke down the door and attacked the English teacher with a knife.

The attack caused Eman to suffer a number of injuries.

A laceration on the top of the head required 11 stitches. In addition, there was a laceration on the left side of the head that required 13 stitches.

Arifin explained that A had only been living in Kupang City for about two years. After completing junior high school in Alor Regency, A continued his education at SMK Pelayaran Lasiana, majoring in Commercial Ship Nautics.

During his schooling, A did not live in the dormitory with some of his classmates. He chose to stay in a boarding house on Jalan Anggrek, Bimoku, Lasiana Village, Kelapa Lima District.

“The perpetrator admitted that he and several of his friends had long harboured resentment due to the victim’s words, which often belittled them,” Arifin explained.

Investigators are still looking into the stabbing case. Police have taken statements from a number of parties, including students, teachers, A, and Eman.

A himself has admitted his actions to the police. However, the weapon used to stab the victim has not yet been found.

Police are still searching for the knife because A reportedly discarded it after fleeing the scene.