Recent high school graduate suspect in East Luwu assault case granted restorative justice
The South Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office has halted the prosecution of an assault case involving a young man with the initials F (19) from East Luwu through a restorative justice mechanism.
Head of the South Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office Muhammad Syarifuddin in Makassar on Tuesday said the termination of prosecution took into account the social condition of the suspect, who had just graduated from high school and intended to continue his education at university.
“Based on the considerations, the social condition of the suspect is that he has just graduated from high school and has the intention to continue his education to the university level,” Syarifuddin said during a virtual case exposure at the South Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office.
The termination of prosecution was carried out after both parties agreed to reconcile through a mediation process at the Wotu District Prosecutor’s Branch Office, East Luwu Regency, on 10 August 2026.
The peace process also received a positive response from religious leaders, community leaders, and the local village government.
The restorative justice request submitted by Head of the Wotu Branch Prosecutor’s Office Ridwan together with Facilitator Prosecutors Fatimah Ayu Safitri and Yusa Putra Widyatama was then approved by the leadership of the South Sulawesi High Prosecutor’s Office in a virtual exposure.
At the time of the incident, the suspect was gathered with his friends. They then heard shouts for help from the direction of the entrance to a football field.
The suspect and his friends approached the source of the sound and found the victim MTI and a female witness crying.
One of the suspect’s friends then asked the victim a question and immediately punched him. The suspect and his friends also participated in the violence by kicking the victim’s waist twice.
As a result of the incident, the victim suffered bruising on the eyelid, scratches on the cheek and neck, and tenderness in the back. The victim has now recovered.
The suspect was charged with violating Article 262 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code or Article 466 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of the Criminal Code related to the criminal act of violence against the victim MTI.
Syarifuddin emphasised that the request to terminate prosecution had fulfilled the applicable legal requirements. He also appreciated the efforts of the Wotu Branch Prosecutor’s Office in resolving the case through a restorative justice approach.
He instructed the Head of the Wotu Branch Prosecutor’s Office to immediately request a restorative justice approval order from the local District Court.
If the suspect is still in detention, Syarifuddin requested that the person concerned be released immediately after the District Court grants the restorative justice approval.
“It should be noted for prosecutors that transactional practices are prohibited and must not occur in case resolution. If it happens, the leadership will take firm action,” Syarifuddin said.