Officially a Suspect: Brimob Officer Who Assaulted Madrasah Student to Death Now Faces Ethics Investigation
Maluku — The latest development in the case of the alleged assault that killed a student of MTsN Southeast Maluku, identified by the initials AT (14), by a member of the Mobile Brigade Corps (Brimob), has seen the officer formally named a suspect.
The Brimob member, identified as MS, has now officially been designated a suspect. The announcement was made during a press conference held at Tual Police Station.
“The suspect designation has been carried out at Tual Police Station,” said the Head of Public Relations at Maluku Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Rositah Umasugi, when contacted for confirmation on Saturday, 21 February 2026.
Shortly after the designation, MS was immediately transferred to Ambon for further proceedings.
“The individual has been transferred to Maluku Regional Police in Ambon,” she said.
At the regional police level, the process extends beyond criminal proceedings alone. An ethics investigation has now been initiated by the Professional and Security Division (Bidpropam) of Maluku Regional Police.
“An ethics code examination is currently being conducted by the Professional and Security Division of Maluku Regional Police,” she said.
It was previously reported that the Brimob officer who assaulted the Madrasah Tsanawiyah (MTs) student identified as AT (14), resulting in the student’s death near the Uningrat Campus in Tual City, Maluku, on Thursday, 19 February 2026, had been apprehended and detained at the Tual Police Station detention facility. Maluku Regional Police confirmed that legal proceedings against the officer would proceed without compromise.
The suspected perpetrator, identified as Private First Class (Bripda) MS, is known to be a member of Brimob Company 1, Pioneer Battalion C. He reportedly assaulted the victim, who was riding a motorcycle with his older sibling. The victim was rushed to hospital for medical treatment but ultimately died, whilst his sibling sustained a fractured bone.
Maluku Regional Police affirmed its commitment to handling this case in a professional, transparent, and just manner.
“The suspected perpetrator, who is a member of Brimob Company 1, Pioneer Battalion C, identified as Bripda MS, has been apprehended and detained at the Tual Police Station detention facility to be held accountable for his actions in accordance with applicable legal proceedings,” said the Head of Public Relations at Maluku Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Rositah Umasugi, in a press statement on Friday, 20 February 2026.
Meanwhile, Maluku Regional Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto emphasised that there would be zero tolerance for any violation of law or ethics committed by police officers.
Beyond criminal proceedings, Maluku Regional Police also confirmed that the enforcement mechanism for the National Police Professional Code of Ethics would run concurrently. Should the ethics tribunal find evidence of serious violations, the officer may face the severe sanction of Dishonourable Discharge from the National Police.