National Police Chief Orders Thorough Investigation into Brimob Officer's Fatal Assault on Child
Jakarta (ANTARA) - National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo has stated that he has ordered his subordinates to conduct a thorough investigation into the case of a Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer with the initials Bripda MS, who is suspected of assaulting a minor resulting in the child’s death.
“I have ordered that the case be fully investigated and that the perpetrator receives a fitting punishment, whilst ensuring justice for the victim’s family,” the Police Chief said in a statement received in Jakarta on Monday.
The head of the Bhayangkara Corps also expressed his deep condolences to the victim’s family and the public over the incident.
He admitted to being furious about the incident, saying it had tarnished the honour of Brimob.
“Just as the victim’s family and the public feel, I am angry to hear that this incident occurred. This clearly tarnishes the honour of the Brimob institution, which is supposed to protect the public,” he said.
On Monday, the Maluku Regional Police were 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 one of the victim’s family members who had sustained injuries. Meanwhile, other family members could follow the proceedings via online facilities or video conferencing.
According to him, the ethics hearing would be conducted in accordance with the Professional and Security Division (Propam) regulations. Parts of the process could be open to the public, though certain stages would be held behind closed doors to examine the facts of the incident in depth. The hearing’s outcome would nonetheless be announced publicly.
To expedite the legal process, the Maluku Regional Police have coordinated with the prosecution service. The Regional Police Chief confirmed he had communicated with the Deputy Head of the High Prosecutor’s Office and public prosecutors to oversee the acceleration of case file preparation.
Based on the chronology provided by the police, the incident began when a Brimob patrol was conducting a security operation using tactical vehicles in Tual City 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 a number of officers alighted from the vehicle and carried out security measures. 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, AT (14), causing the victim to fall from the motorcycle in a face-down 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.
Following the incident, the victim’s family went to the Brimob Headquarters in Tual to demand justice. The police responded by immediately detaining Bripda MS on the same day.