Police Reveal Motive Behind Fatal Assault on Mentally Ill Man in North Sumatra

A man with the initials EVSD (29) has been arrested for fatally assaulting a man suffering from a mental disorder, identified as JKK (57), in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The suspect’s motive was anger after the victim overturned his motorcycle.

Karo Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Hizkia Siagian confirmed the suspect was the owner of the motorcycle that the victim flipped during a rampage. “Yes, because he was annoyed (the motorcycle was overturned),” Hizkia said on Saturday (4/7).

Hizkia stated the suspect beat the victim indiscriminately with a bamboo pole. The incident occurred in Perbesi Village, Tigabinanga District, on the evening of Saturday, May 30. The suspect was arrested on Friday, July 3.

According to the investigation, the incident began when the victim was rampaging around a multipurpose hall in the village. The victim’s family confirmed he had a mental health condition. During the episode, the victim overturned a parked motorcycle and threw stones at residents’ houses. The suspect, furious at the victim’s actions, attacked him with a bamboo pole.

Following the assault, the victim was rushed to Kabanjahe General Hospital for treatment. He was pronounced dead in the early hours of Sunday, May 31.