Sahroni: Police Right to Dismiss Brimob Officer Who Beat Teenager to Death in Tual

Deputy Chairman of House of Representatives Commission III Ahmad Sahroni has deemed the Indonesian National Police’s decision to dismiss a Brimob (Mobile Brigade) officer from the Maluku Regional Police, First Class Private MS, who assaulted a 14-year-old Islamic secondary school student identified by the initials AT in Tual City, Maluku, resulting in the teenager’s death, as the correct course of action. Sahroni said the move was an effort by the police to uphold their institutional dignity.

“I consider this dismissal to be the right step,” Sahroni told reporters on Tuesday (24/2/2026).

“Beyond upholding constitutional dignity, it also ensures that the legal process can proceed more swiftly and transparently without any pretences, and I hope it will be processed as quickly as possible,” he added.

Sahroni said he was aware that the police leadership had instructed humane and measured law enforcement. However, he argued that the greatest challenge remains ensuring such instructions are implemented down to the lowest ranks.

“I believe that in cases like this, it is not only the perpetrator who should be punished — his superiors could also face sanctions for being deemed negligent in managing their subordinates,” he said.

Previously, the Brimob officer from the Maluku Regional Police, First Class Private MS, was found to have violated the Indonesian National Police Code of Ethics in the assault case that killed the 14-year-old student identified as AT in Tual City, Maluku. First Class Private MS was dishonourably discharged after being found guilty of the violation.

“The Police Ethics Commission has handed down the following verdict: firstly, the offender’s conduct is declared to be a reprehensible act. Secondly, placement in a special detention facility for four days, from 21 February 2026 to 24 February 2026,” said Maluku Regional Police Head of Public Relations Commissioner Rusitah Umasugi in the early hours of Tuesday (24/2/2026).

“And thirdly, dishonourable discharge from the Indonesian National Police,” she added.

The verdict was based on an ethics hearing held by the Police Ethics Commission at the Maluku Regional Police Professional and Security Division hearing room. The hearing was chaired by Commissioner Indra Gunawan, accompanied by Deputy Chairman of the Police Ethics Commission Senior Superintendent Jamaludin Malawa and Ethics Commission member Senior Superintendent Jaku Samusi. The prosecutors in the hearing were Inspector Joni James Holey and Senior Adjutant Inspector Edward Jaya.