Not a teenager: PPPA says Makassar police shooting victim was an adult man

The Ministry for Women’s Empowerment and Child Protection (PPPA) has stated that the victim of a police shooting in Makassar, South Sulawesi, who died after being shot, was an adult male. Earlier reports had said the victim was a teenage student. ‘The victim died as an adult male, aged 18 years 4 months,’ said Ciput Eka Purwianti, Assistant Deputy for the Provision of Services to Children Requiring Special Protection at KemenPPPA, on Friday 6 March, as quoted by Antara.

On that basis, Purwianti said the PPPA could not provide further assistance to the victim or his family. She noted that the victim was not a child, even though he was still enrolled in senior high school. ‘Given that the male victim is already an adult, no further action will be taken,’ Purwianti added.

Nevertheless, Purwianti stressed that the PPPA regrets the alleged negligence in firearm use by police that led to the victim’s death.

According to data received by the PPPA, the victim was recorded as a student in grade 12 (year 3 of senior high school) in Makassar.

To date, Makassar City’s Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Protection of Women and Children (UPTD PPA) has carried out initial outreach to the victim’s home, but could not meet the family as they were in mourning.

The victim had apparently been living with his biological father, and his paternal grandfather and grandmother. The parents of the victim were divorced.

Previously, Betrand Eka Prasetyo (18), a male teenager, was shot dead by Iptu N, a police officer of Panakkukang Police Sector, Makassar, on Sunday 1 March.

Initially, police had received reports of a group of youths playing a form of mock warfare using toy weapons that fired gel pellets in Panakkukang. The report stated that the youths’ actions disrupted road users.

Iptu N subsequently went to the scene, fired a warning shot to disperse the crowd, and sought to secure the victim. However, the victim resisted and is believed to have attempted to flee.

Based on police investigations disclosed by Makassar City Police Chief, Kombes Pol Arya Perdana, the pistol belonging to N discharged accidentally at the time and struck the victim.

The victim was immediately transported to Grestelina Hospital. However, due to limited medical equipment, he was referred to Bhayangkara Hospital Makassar. Tragically, he died en route.

As of now, Iptu N has been named a suspect and is undergoing ethical proceedings. The firearm used has also been secured by internal police authorities.

Firearm evaluation by Polri

Polri has said it will continue to conduct evaluations, including the use of firearms by its officers, in the wake of the fatal shooting incident attributed to Iptu N.

‘That evaluation process, you know, is ongoing at all times. Every step in operational activities and in police training involves analysis and evaluation, from before planning to during implementation and after-action review,’ said Brig. Gen. Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, Head of Public Relations at the Polri’s Public Information Bureau (Karo Humas), at the Bareskrim building in Jakarta on Thursday 5 March.

He added that supervision functions exist at various levels to ensure that evaluations are carried out.

Earlier, Makassar City Police Chief Kombes Pol Arya Perdana asserted that Iptu N would still be processed for the shooting of Betrand Eka Prasetyo despite it being accidental while trying to disperse a group playing with toy weapons.

‘The action we took was to immediately secure Iptu N, carry out examinations that same day, and secure his weapon,’ he said.