MPR Speaker warns police abuse case involving child's death in Tual must serve as lesson

Jakarta (ANTARA) - MPR Speaker Ahmad Muzani has urged that the case of a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer identified by the initials Bripda MS, who fatally assaulted a minor in Tual, Maluku, must serve as a lesson for the Indonesian National Police (Polri).

According to Muzani, such incidents have become increasingly frequent in law enforcement operations. However, he admitted he had not yet followed the issue in detail.

“This must serve as a lesson, and I believe that the police apparatus, whether National Police Headquarters or the regional police command, will handle this professionally,” Muzani said when interviewed after attending an iftar gathering in Jakarta on Sunday.

He expressed confidence that National Police Headquarters would rigorously examine the facts on the ground.

Furthermore, he stressed that public expectations of the police must be given serious attention. He believed that police leadership would listen to and study the various perspectives directed at the institution.

According to Muzani, the correct course of action for the police is one that serves the public interest and upholds law enforcement.

“Be patient for a moment, because the police — in this case the National Police Chief and his ranks — are giving serious attention to everything that has occurred in the field,” he said.

Previously, according to the police chronology, the incident began when a Brimob patrol was conducting a security operation using a tactical vehicle in the Tual City and Southeast Maluku Regency area in the early hours of Thursday (19 February 2026).

The patrol was initially stationed at the Mangga Dua Complex in Langgur until approximately 02:00 Eastern Indonesia Time (WIT), before moving to Fiditan Village in Tual City after receiving a report from residents regarding an alleged assault near the Tete Pancing area.

Upon arriving at the location, the suspect and several other officers dismounted from the vehicle to secure the area. Approximately 10 minutes later, two motorcycles were travelling at high speed from the direction of Ngadi towards Tete Pancing. The suspect reportedly swung a tactical helmet as a signal. However, the helmet struck the right temple of the victim, identified as AT (14), causing the victim to fall from the motorcycle in a prone position.

The victim was rushed to Karel Sadsuitubun Regional General Hospital in Langgur for medical treatment. However, at 13:00 WIT, the victim was pronounced dead.