Islamic Boarding School Leader and Student Named Suspects in Lombok Santri Burning Case

Police have finally named two suspects in connection with the alleged burning of three santri at the Rosudatussaulatiyah Al Ibrahimy Islamic boarding school (ponpes) in Aik Darek village, Batukliang district, Central Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). They are the head of the ponpes, Ahmad Muzakki Rahmatullah, also known as AMR, and MR (15), a fellow student of the victims.

“After an investigation by the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Central Lombok Police and a case review, two people have been named suspects. The first is MR and the second is AMR,” said the head of the NTB Regional Police Public Relations Division, Commissioner Mohammad Kholid, at a press conference at the Central Lombok Police headquarters on Thursday (9 July 2026).

The case of santri being burned by a fellow student at the Rosudatussaulatiyah Al Ibrahimy ponpes in Central Lombok actually occurred on 13 December 2025. However, the police only began their investigation in early June 2026.

Kholid explained that the investigation only began then because the victims did not immediately report the incident. Two of the victims, Ahmad Deven Ramdan (14) and Sahid Al Hudri (14), suffered burns as a result of the incident, while another santri with the initials SS (14) died.

“The Central Lombok Police began their investigation in June 2026 after receiving information, because the incident had not been promptly reported,” Kholid added.

Kholid explained that the two were named suspects after sufficient evidence had been gathered through a series of investigations, including the questioning of 20 witnesses, an examination of the crime scene, and the results of the victims’ medical examinations and records.

“Investigators have questioned 20 witnesses, including experts in criminal law and medicine. After conducting a series of investigations and a case review, two people were named suspects,” said Kholid.

The head of the Criminal Investigation Unit at the Central Lombok Police, Assistant Commissioner Punguan Hutahaean, said the two suspects were charged under Articles 474 paragraphs 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code, which carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment. Both are deemed to have been negligent, causing the death and serious injury of the victims.

Nevertheless, neither suspect has been detained. Punguan explained that MR, who is still a minor, was sufficiently cooperative during the investigation and inquiry process.

“As for Tuan Guru (AMR), we have summoned him as a witness, but he is currently in poor health, so we have postponed the questioning. Once he has legal counsel and receives a suitable health recommendation, we will carry out the questioning,” said Punguan.