Samarinda Ulu Deputy Police Chief Struck by Travel Driver While Assisting Accident Victim
A police officer, Assistant Commissioner Boedi Santoso, who serves as Deputy Chief of Samarinda Ulu Police in East Kalimantan, was assaulted while attempting to help a traffic accident victim. The incident occurred on Jalan Juanda, directly in front of a petrol station, on Thursday (13/8) at around 5.00 pm local time.
Samarinda Police Public Relations Head, Inspector Arie Soeharyadi, confirmed that the attacker was a 28-year-old man with the initials TS. At the time of the incident, Boedi Santoso was wearing full uniform after completing a security assignment at the Health Office.
‘The assault case is being handled separately from the traffic accident that triggered the violence,’ Arie told Media Indonesia on Sunday (16/8).
The incident began with a collision between a motorcycle ridden by a woman and a white Toyota Innova driven by TS. As a result of the crash, the motorcyclist and her vehicle became trapped beneath the Innova.
Seeing the incident, Boedi Santoso, who was passing by, immediately took the initiative to provide assistance. However, the evacuation effort was met with an aggressive response from TS. The suspect objected because the motorcycle under his car was being forcibly removed.
‘Our officer’s main focus was to save the life of the trapped victim. However, the Innova driver, TS, did not accept this and struck the victim twice on the jaw,’ Arie explained.
Despite the physical attack, Boedi did not retaliate. He remained focused on evacuating the accident victim together with local residents until she was taken to the nearest health facility. After providing assistance, Boedi reported the incident and underwent a medical examination.
TS is currently being held at Samarinda Ulu Police Station to face legal proceedings. Police have also seized a white Toyota Innova as evidence. Based on initial examination, TS is known to work as a travel driver on the Sangatta-Samarinda-Balikpapan route.
Police suspect TS’s behaviour was unusual and arrogant towards a uniformed officer. Even while in the criminal investigation unit, the suspect was reportedly rude and pushed an officer because he insisted on going home.
‘We will conduct a medical laboratory test in the form of a urine test on TS to determine whether his behaviour was influenced by drugs or alcohol,’ Arie added.
For his actions, investigators have applied the assault article as stipulated in Article 466 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the new Criminal Code.