Police Acknowledge Weaknesses Regarding Brimob's Role in Civil Security

Wed, 25 Feb 2026, 13:59 WIB | By Akmal Fauzi | Source: MEDIA_INDONESIA | Social Policy

Headline

All proceeds from crimes that harm the state must be confiscated.

POLRI stated that it will conduct an evaluation following demands from the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) to withdraw the Brimob unit from its role in civil security. The demand emerged after a case of alleged abuse by a Brimob officer that resulted in the death of a child.

“It is true that there are weaknesses, we admit it. These are individual actions,” said the Head of the Polri Public Relations Division, Irjen Johnny Eddizon Isir, quoted by Antara on Wednesday (25/2).

He emphasized that Polri appreciates and values all input and criticism from the public. According to him, the criticism will be used as material for evaluation for future improvements.

However, he said that the involvement of Brimob members in territorial units, especially in the eastern part of Indonesia, is still very helpful to the local police and Polres (regional police).

“Of course, what the Brimob Polri members do is also together with the territorial units to ensure security, to ensure social order, to ensure safety,” he said.

Previously, the Chairman of YLBHI, Muhammad Isnur, stated that the death of the victim with the initials AT in this case was not just an ordinary event, but a recurring incident.

He assessed that the problem was structural, not just the fault of an individual. Therefore, the improvements made must also touch on structural aspects through reform, including eliminating or reducing the role of Brimob in the community.

“Brimob is a special forces unit, a special force intended for special purposes. So, Brimob should not be used to face the community, face demonstrators, face citizens, face those who are protecting their land and environment,” he said.

In the development of this case, the Maluku Police officially dismissed Bripda MS (Mesias Viktor Siahaya), a Brimob member who is suspected of abusing a student in Tual to the point of death.

Bripda MS was found to have committed an act that violated the Polri Code of Ethics.

However, Bripda MS is still considering the panel’s decision and has been given time to file an appeal.

Regarding the alleged abuse, according to the police chronology, the incident began when a Brimob patrol carried out activities to create a conducive situation using tactical vehicles in the city of Tual and the Maluku Tenggara Regency on Thursday (19/2) early in the morning.

The patrol initially was in the Mangga Dua Complex, Langgur until around 02:00 WIT. Then, the patrol moved to Desa Fiditan, Tual City, after receiving reports from residents regarding alleged beatings in the Tete Pancing area.

At the location, the suspect Mesias and a number of members got out of the vehicle and carried out security. About 10 minutes later, two motorcycles drove at high speed from Ngadi towards Tete Pancing.

The suspect is said to have swung a tactical helmet as a signal. However, the helmet hit the victim AT (14) on the right temple, causing the victim to fall off the motorcycle in a prone position.

The victim was then rushed to the Karel Sadsuitubun Langgur Hospital for medical treatment. However, at 13:00 WIT, the victim was declared dead. (Ant/P-4)

The provisions of the KPK Law, which are considered to open up opportunities for active TNI and Polri members to serve as leaders of the KPK, have been challenged in the Constitutional Court because they are considered ambiguous.

Usman Hamid, said that the case of Brimob violence in Tual reflects the weakness of accountability and supervision within the Polri.

Polri handed over the case file of Brimob member Bripda MS, the suspect in the abuse of a student in Tual, to the Prosecutor’s Office. The suspect was officially dismissed and faces a 15-year prison sentence.

A MEMBER of Commission III of the DPR RI from the PKB faction, Hasbiallah Ilyas, warned the Polri to not make the simultaneous urine test instruction a mere formality.

A MEMBER of the Kompolnas, Choirul Anam, appreciated the firm action of the Polri in imposing the sanction of Dismissal Not With Honor (PTDH) on Bripda MS.

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