Petty Motive Exposed in Fatal Assault on Bripda Dirja Pratama; Senior Suspect Confesses

The petty motive behind the assault that led to the death of Bripda Dirja Pratama has been revealed; this is what his senior, who is now a suspect, confessed.

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Makassar, VIVA – New facts have emerged in the case of the death of Second Police Brigadier (Bripda) Dirja Pratama (19) at the Samapta Dormitory of the South Sulawesi Regional Police.

The act of violence, allegedly committed by a senior officer against a junior, was triggered by a hierarchy issue. The Chief of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, Inspector General of Police Djuhandani Raharjo Puro, revealed the motive behind the assault committed by Bripda P against the victim.

“The motive is a hierarchy issue; the senior was angry because the junior (the victim) was asked to come forward but refused to do so,” he said on Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

He affirmed that, to investigators, the suspect admitted to hitting the victim until he died. The act of violence allegedly occurred during the dawn prayer time.

“He was picked up and assaulted, beaten, during the dawn prayer,” he said.

Previously, it was reported that one person had been named as a suspect in the assault on Bripda DP, which led to his death.

“Currently, we have secured one suspect based on the confession made. However, we do not simply believe it, because we are still looking at other possible involvements,” said the Chief of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, Inspector General of Police Djuhandhani Rahardjo Puro, on Monday, 23 February 2026.

For your information, a young member of the Polri (Indonesian National Police) with the rank of Bripda and the initials DP was reported to have died inside the Police Dormitory (Aspol), in the South Sulawesi Regional Police Office complex, Makassar. DP died allegedly due to being assaulted by his senior.

The Head of the Propam Division of the South Sulawesi Regional Police, Commissioner of Police Zulham Effendi, said that they had examined six witnesses, including DP’s senior.

“We cannot yet confirm whether the victim was ganged up on or not, but we have definitely conducted examinations on six people, including his colleagues or those from his cohort, and DP’s senior. There may be more (people examined) later,” he told reporters, quoted on Sunday, 22 February 2026.