National Police Chief orders severe punishment for Brimob officer who assaulted child
Jakarta (ANTARA) — National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has ordered his ranks to impose the severest possible punishment on a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer identified by the initials Bripda MS, who is suspected of assaulting a minor resulting in death.
“I have ordered that the heaviest possible action be taken,” he said, as quoted from a confirmed statement in Jakarta on Monday.
He also stated that he had instructed Maluku Regional Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto and the Head of the National Police’s Professional and Security Division, Inspector General Abdul Karim, to thoroughly investigate the case.
“Deliver a sense of justice for the victim’s family. I want the process to be transparent,” he said.
The head of the police force reiterated that the National Police shows no favouritism towards personnel who commit violations.
“I have long stated that those who perform well will be rewarded. However, those who violate the rules will certainly be punished, as we are all governed by regulations,” he said.
On Monday, the Maluku Regional Police was set to hold an ethics hearing for Bripda MS at 14:00 Eastern Indonesian Time (WIT).
Maluku Regional Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto said the victim’s family was scheduled to arrive from Tual at approximately 12:00 WIT before attending the ethics hearing at the regional police headquarters.
The family was first to visit a hospital to check on an injured family member of the victim. Meanwhile, other family members could follow the proceedings via online or video conferencing facilities.
He explained that the ethics hearing would be conducted in accordance with Professional and Security Division regulations. Parts of the process may be open to the public, though certain stages would be held behind closed doors to examine the facts of the incident. The outcome of the hearing would nonetheless be announced publicly.
To expedite the legal process, the Maluku Regional Police has coordinated with the prosecution service. The regional police chief said he had communicated with the Deputy Head of the High Prosecutor’s Office and public prosecutors to oversee the swift completion of the case file.
According to the chronology provided by police, the incident began when a Brimob patrol was conducting a security operation using a tactical vehicle in the Tual city area and Southeast Maluku Regency in the early hours of Thursday (19 February).
The patrol was initially stationed at the Mangga Dua Complex in Langgur until approximately 02:00 WIT. It then moved 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 disembarked from the vehicle to secure the area. Approximately ten minutes later, two motorcycles approached 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 face-down from the motorcycle.
The victim was rushed to Karel Sadsuitubun Regional Hospital in Langgur for medical treatment. However, at 13:00 WIT, the victim was pronounced dead.