Reporter of Extortion by 4 Maluku Police Detained, Suspect in Cyanide Case

The Maluku Provincial Police’s Directorate of Special Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimsus) detained entrepreneur Hartini and placed her in the Polda Maluku detention centre on Monday (21/4). Hartini, who had previously reported alleged extortion by four police officers at Polda Maluku, was detained as a suspect in the case of possessing dozens of sacks of the chemical compound cyanide. The Head of Public Relations for Polda Maluku, Commissioner Pol Rositah Umasugi, stated that Hartini has been designated as a suspect in the case involving 46 sacks of cyanide stored in a shophouse in the Mardika market area. Hartini, she said, skipped summons twice. After attending the third summons and undergoing intensive examination, the suspect entrepreneur was detained. “Hartini was detained on Monday (20/4) and placed in the Polda Maluku detention centre,” she stated in a written release on Wednesday (22/4). Hartini was designated as a suspect on 12 March 2026. In addition, police raided the suspect’s shophouse in the Mardika market area, Ambon City, and seized 46 sacks containing cyanide on Thursday (25/4). Rositah explained that the suspect’s detention is a follow-up to the investigation process that has been ongoing since a police report in October 2025. Rositah explained that investigators have carried out a series of legal actions, from preliminary investigations, witness examinations, evidence gathering, to suspect designation. She affirmed the Indonesian National Police’s commitment to firmly addressing every law violation that potentially endangers public safety. In the national context, she said, the misuse of chemical substances is a strategic issue due to its broad impact on public security. Rosita explained that along with the suspect’s detention, investigators will continue to deepen the probe to complete the case file and ensure the legal process proceeds to the next stage. In the cyanide case, the suspect is charged with violating Article 9 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 23 of Law Number 9 of 2008 on the Use of Chemical Substances and the Prohibition of Using Chemical Substances as Chemical Weapons, with a maximum prison sentence of five years and a fine of up to Rp5 billion. Alleged police extortion Previously, Hartini also reported four members of Polda Maluku to the Professional and Security Division (Propam) regarding alleged extortion against her. Hartini reported alleged fraud related to the purchase of cyanide worth Rp8.2 billion and extortion by police officers. The report was filed by Hartini along with her legal representative at Polda Maluku headquarters in Ambon on Monday (6/4). The four police officers reported for alleged extortion are the Head of Alert 3 SPKT, Commissioner Pol S, Polda Maluku member Bripka ER, Bripka I, and Pelabuhan Police Sector Chief AKP REL. After reporting to Propam, Hartini explained that Bripka ER once demanded Rp800 million, consisting of Rp600 million to be given to AKP REL, the Pelabuhan Police Sector Chief, and Rp200 million to an officer in Ditreskrimsus Polda Maluku. The alleged extortion case against Hartini began when Bripka ER, a Polda Maluku member, conducted a cyanide business with an entrepreneur named Komar. Bripka ER purchased around 300 cans of cyanide with a total weight of about 50 kilograms for Rp8.2 billion. However, only Rp2 billion was paid to the supplying company, a PT in Surabaya, East Java. The shortfall was allegedly covered by Hartini, with a promise to settle it after the goods arrived in Ambon. Subsequently, after the 300 cans of cyanide were shipped from Surabaya to Ambon via sea transport, Bripka ER contacted Hartini stating that the cyanide was held by police at Yos Sudarso Port in Ambon. The extortion then occurred related to that cyanide.