Three Suspects Named in Alleged Assault on TV One Journalist

Three individuals suspected of assaulting two online journalists and a TV One journalist in Bangka Belitung Province have been named as suspects. They are Sahiridi, 30, a security guard at PT PMM; Hazari, 51, an employee of PT PMM; and Maulid, 48, a driver. The Babel Police Public Relations Head, Kombes Agus Sugiyarso, confirmed that the three have been named suspects in the assault case, and they have been detained at the Babel Police Headquarters. The move followed a police report and a rapid response by Subdit 3 Jatanras Ditreskrimum Babel around 22:00–23:00 WIB. Director of Reskrimum Babel Kombes M. Rivai Arvan said there was sufficient evidence to name the suspects, who were immediately detained. Detention was not only due to subjective reasons but to show that journalism is lawful and protected by law and may not be interfered with, especially through violence. The suspects are accused of assaulting the complainant Frendy Primadana alias Dana (a TV One journalist). They face Article 262 of UU No. 1 Tahun 2023 on the KUHP with a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment. The incident began when Frendy Primadana and online journalists Dedi Wahyudi and Wahyu Kurniawan covered news of a siege and assault by residents around PT PMM against a member of the Satgas Trisakti. Rather than receiving confirmation or clarification, the journalists were assaulted by a truck driver who objected to being filmed. A dispute escalated into a beating. Dana sustained blows to the head, face, nose and eyes, with blood flowing from the nose. ‘If I was struck physically, it was three blows to the left side of the face, the right cheek, and the head,’ Primadana said. Dedi Wahyudi sustained similar injuries to the head, jaw and ear. In addition to the physical abuse, their mobile phones were seized. The victims were forced to delete all footage of the coverage and were restrained and threatened with murder until police arrived to secure the scene.