Manggarai Barat Police Chief Threatens Criminal Charges Over Sharing Photos of Dead Foreign Tourists in Labuan Bajo
Manggarai Barat Police Chief AKBP Christian Kadang has urged the public to stop sharing photos and videos on social media regarding the condition of two deceased Austrian tourists. They died after falling from a suspension bridge at the Cunca Wulang Waterfall tourist destination in Mbeliling District, Manggarai Barat, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), on Sunday (24/5/2026).
Christian has warned of criminal charges for netizens who share images and videos of the grim condition of the two tourists’ corpses. He emphasised that distributing such inappropriate content is not merely a moral violation but also carries legal consequences under criminal law.
‘We strongly urge all members of the public, whether in Manggarai Barat or social media users anywhere, to immediately cease sharing photos or videos of the victims’ condition which are unsuitable for public consumption,’ Christian stated in a statement on Sunday evening (24/5/2026).
The two tourist victims were identified as Jurgen Perjul, 55, and Astrid Perjul, 57. They died tragically after colliding with large rocks at the riverbed following a fall from a collapsed wooden suspension bridge at the Cunca Wulang Waterfall tourist site. The bridge, made of wooden planks, stood approximately 20 metres high.
Christian stressed that anyone intentionally disseminating vulgar and tragic visual content of the victims could face charges under the Electronic Information and Transactions Law (UU ITE).
‘Remember, there are real legal consequences. Distributing content that violates decency, privacy, or exploits the victims’ condition inappropriately can be prosecuted under UU ITE. Do not let the initial intention to inform turn into a criminal act,’ Christian warned.
He stated that the police’s current duties are not solely focused on evacuating victims and investigating the cause of the bridge collapse. Beyond that, he added, law enforcement also bears the moral responsibility to safeguard the psychological well-being of the victims’ families.
‘The police also have a moral duty to protect the psychological state of the victims’ families and educate the public to have high social empathy online,’ Christian explained.
Cunca Wulang is a tourist destination in Labuan Bajo managed by the Manggarai Barat Creative Economy and Culture Tourism Office. It is approximately a 1.5-hour drive from Labuan Bajo.
The moment the tourists fell from the suspension bridge was recounted by tour guide Muhammad Muhardin, 30. The tragedy began when Jurgen and Astrid arrived at the Cunca Wulang Waterfall tourist site around 9:20 AM WITA.
They were accompanied by their personal driver, Julius Mam, 45. After completing administrative registration at the ticket booth, the tourists began trekking to the waterfall site under Muhardin’s guidance.
Upon reaching the wooden suspension bridge spanning high above the rocky river, the victims intended to capture their moment together in a short video. They handed their mobile phones to Muhardin, asking him to record their journey from behind.
‘They walked side by side, smiling warmly at the camera. They asked me, “Please film us from behind as we cross this bridge,”’ Muhardin recalled in Labuan Bajo.
After walking about 10 metres across the suspension bridge, Muhardin said the wooden structure supporting their feet suddenly broke. A loud cracking sound, like a large tree falling, was heard. Muhardin witnessed the tourists fall and hit the large rocks below.
‘Suddenly, a very loud cracking sound like a large branch breaking was heard. Within seconds, the bridge completely collapsed,’ Muhardin said.
‘I saw them both fall freely downward and immediately strike the large river rocks at the bottom of the gorge,’ he added.