Police take arson terror suspect to Police Hospital for mental examination

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Police transported the perpetrator of the arson terror incident that occurred at several points in Pisangan Baru Ward, Matraman District, East Jakarta, on Sunday (10/5) in the early hours, to Kramat Jati Police Hospital for a mental health examination. “Just now, around 13:30 WIB, the suspect was taken to Kramat Jati Police Hospital for examination,” said Matraman Police Chief Kompol Suripno when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Tuesday. According to him, the suspect must be taken to the Police Hospital to further assess his mental condition. “Yes, to undergo psychological and mental health examinations to ensure whether the individual has a mental disorder,” Suripno stated. Additionally, the examination is conducted so that legal handling of the suspect is carried out appropriately and in accordance with his actual condition. Police do not want to act hastily before receiving official results from the medical side regarding the suspect’s mental condition. “So, we know what the next steps will be, once it’s proven whether there is indeed a mental disorder or not,” Suripno said. “His confession repeatedly expresses regret, but sometimes there are whispers that drive him to continue doing it,” Suripno added. On the other hand, police received information from the family that the suspect is known as a very quiet and reclusive figure in daily life. Even to his own mother, the suspect is said to rarely communicate. “His child is extremely quiet. Even with his biological mother, you can count the number of times he speaks. He’s not the social type, he spends more time alone,” Suripno revealed. Therefore, he emphasised that the mental health examination is important to avoid mistakes in making legal decisions. “Later, if we just detain him arbitrarily and it turns out there is a mental disorder, that wouldn’t be right either. But if we release him just like that, the public will think we’re freeing the suspect without due process,” Suripno said. Currently, the police are still awaiting the examination results from the Police Hospital regarding the suspect’s psychological and mental condition. These results will serve as the basis for determining further handling of the case. The involvement of relevant parties is being called to discuss social handling of the suspect in his residential environment. “So that there is proper handling and the community can clearly accept the situation,” Suripno explained. Previously, Matraman Police Station secured a man with initials A (24) suspected of being the perpetrator of the arson terror at several points in Pisangan Baru Ward, Matraman District, East Jakarta. “Secured the suspected perpetrator who set fires at several locations. The suspected perpetrator was secured at his home,” said Matraman Police Chief Suripno when confirmed in Jakarta on Tuesday. The arrest was carried out on Monday (11/5) evening at the suspect’s residence in the Matraman area. From the suspect, police also seized evidence in the form of a motorcycle used during the arson at several locations in the Pisangan Baru area.