Kukar Police Arrest Nine Suspects in Tabang Assault, Confirm Incident Not Sectarian
The Kutai Kartanegara (Kukar) Resort Police in East Kalimantan have successfully uncovered a case of assault in Tabang District that resulted in one fatality and one person suffering serious injuries. Nine men have been named as suspects in the incident, which had triggered unrest among local residents.
The assault previously sparked the burning and vandalism of a food stall belonging to a resident identified as S on Saturday (8/8). However, thanks to the swift response of Tabang Police and Kukar Resort Police personnel, the disturbance was quelled before it could spread to other areas.
Kukar Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner Khairul Basyar, during a press conference on Monday (10/8), revealed that the nine suspects in custody are identified by the initials MF alias O, AP alias A, AFA alias K, HM, JAP, P, MA, ANM, and one minor. The deceased victim was named Ignasius, and the seriously injured victim is Lewi.
“The criminal act occurred in Bilaq Talang Village, Tabang District, Kukar, on the evening of Wednesday, 5 August 2026,” the Police Chief stated.
The incident began around 8:00 p.m. local time when the suspects were gathered at a food stall on Jalan Poros PU, Bilaq Talang Village. At approximately 9:00 p.m., the two victims rode past the stall on a Yamaha WR motorcycle with a loud exhaust and a Honda Win three to four times.
The perpetrators suspected the two victims were under the influence of alcohol because they stopped in front of the gathering spot. Tensions peaked when one suspect, MF alias O, left the stall but was blocked by the two victims in the middle of the road.
Feeling threatened, MF returned to the stall to call his friend, AP alias A. Other friends of MF who were at the stall then went to the location out of concern, leading to a mass assault.
After the incident, both victims were rushed to the community health centre. However, Ignasius was pronounced dead, while Lewi required treatment for facial injuries.
The manhunt for the perpetrators was conducted on Sunday (9/8) by the Kukar Police Criminal Investigation Unit with support from the East Kalimantan Regional Police’s Jatanras team. The team was split into two groups to search for the suspects across several areas.
As a result, suspects AP, MF, and AFA were arrested in Samarinda City with assistance from the Samarinda URC Team. Four other suspects, namely HM, JAP, P, and the minor, were apprehended in Tabang District. Meanwhile, suspects MA and ANM were detained in Tenggarong District.
“All suspects are now in custody at Kukar Police. We have also seized evidence including a Honda CRF motorcycle, a Yamaha WR 155, a Honda Win 100, and bottles of alcohol from the crime scene,” explained Khairul Basyar.
The suspects are charged under Article 262, Paragraphs (1), (2), and (4) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 12 years.
The Police Chief stressed that the incident was purely a violent crime and had no connection to ethnic, religious, racial, or inter-group issues. All suspects are young men, with the oldest being 24 years of age.
“The delay in initial handling was due to limited personnel at the Tabang Police Station. We assure that this case is being handled professionally as a purely criminal matter,” he asserted.
Kukar Police are committed to coordinating with local traditional leaders to counter wild rumours. Additionally, the police will intensify alcohol raids to maintain security and order in the Tabang area.
“We urge the public to remain calm, be patient, and not be easily provoked by unverified issues,” the Police Chief concluded.