Police Name 5 Suspects Of Beating Journalists And Public Relations Of KLH

Serang Resort Police, Banten, named five people as suspects in the case of beating public relations officers from the Ministry of Environment and a TribunBanten journalist.

Serang Police Chief AKBP Condro Sasongko said the determination of the suspect in the beating of journalists and KLH officers was carried out after investigators examined 15 witnesses.

"Of the 15 people being questioned, five people have been named as suspects and are currently being detained at the Serang Police. They are civil, including security, members of mass organizations, and employees of PT Genesis Regency Smelting," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 25.

This beating took place on Thursday (21/8) when a number of journalists were covering the inspection of the Ministry of Environment (KLH) team to the location of the PT Genesis Regency Smelting factory.

The lead smelting plant is located in Jawilan District, Serang Regency, which has been sealed, but is back in operation.

Meanwhile, the Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of the Serang Police, AKPi Andi Kurniady, explained that there were two different beatings. Three of the five suspects are suspected of committing violence against KLH Public Relations officers.

"Three people, namely K, B, and R, played a role in hitting, mitigating, and kicking the victim from the KLH Public Relations," said Andi.

Meanwhile, two other suspects, namely S and A, were suspected of beating journalists by pursuing and beating them in the head and back.

Andi explained that the motive for the beating of KLH officers was the perpetrators' efforts to seize the victim's cellphone to delete the video recorded at the time of the incident. Meanwhile, the motive for the beating of journalists is suspected to be due to wrong targets.

"The perpetrators thought that fellow journalists were part of the group that often demonstrated at the location. Annoyed, they chased and beat him," he said.

The suspects were charged with Article 170 of the Criminal Code regarding beatings with a maximum penalty of 5 years and 6 months in prison.