Makassar Primary School Student Murder Suspect Faces Up to 20 Years in Prison

A 12-year-old primary school student in Makassar, South Sulawesi, is suspected to have been murdered by a neighbour. The victim, NU, was found in an abandoned house, and the suspect, IK, aged 19, was arrested nearby. Police stated the act was premeditated, not spontaneous. ‘The charges for premeditated murder under Article 459 and subsidiary Article 458 carry a maximum penalty of death or 20 years imprisonment,’ said Makassar City Police Chief Kombes Arya Perdana on Wednesday (27 May). According to police, the suspect lured the child by convincing him to buy drinks before committing violence and rape. The suspect, who lived near the victim, had targeted him and reportedly enjoyed watching pornography. ‘He asked the child to buy drinks, then took him to an empty house. The victim’s mouth was covered, and he was beaten when resisting. After losing consciousness, the suspect raped him,’ Arya explained. The family searched for the missing child since Tuesday (26 May) until night, and the body was found the following day by a resident using the abandoned house as a restroom.