Telecom Tower Component Thief Arrested in Batam, Network Completely Down

The Sagulung Police Criminal Investigation Unit has arrested a 38-year-old man, identified as HJS, for allegedly stealing several telecommunications tower components in the Batu Aji area of Batam, Riau Islands. The suspect’s actions caused the transmitter network to go completely dead, disrupting communication services for residents in the vicinity.

The arrest took place at the Batu Aji 1 MT Tower site on Jalan Air Mas Plaza. The case came to light after a network technician, FHS, received an emergency notification from the service centre indicating a total network outage in the Batu Aji area. Upon conducting an on-site inspection, FHS discovered that several components belonging to PT Huawei Tech Investment were missing, with cables and connecting devices found cut and forcibly removed.

Following the report, the Sagulung Police Criminal Investigation Unit, led by Iptu Anwar Aris, immediately deployed a Quick Reaction Team to the location. While sweeping the area around the transmitter, officers found HJS still at the site with a quantity of telecommunications material he was about to take away. The suspect was secured along with the evidence and taken to the Sagulung Police headquarters for further questioning.

Police emphasised that the theft of telecommunications facilities is a serious crime due to its direct impact on economic activity and public services. The stolen components, including optical cables and grounding equipment, are crucial for maintaining signal quality for internet, telephone, and messaging services. HJS is charged under Article 447, paragraphs (1) f and g, of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years’ imprisonment. Authorities are continuing to investigate the possibility of other accomplices and whether the suspect has committed similar thefts elsewhere in Batam.