Examining The Motives Of TNI Members In The Circular Of Criminal Acts

JAKARTA The involvement of TNI members in the kidnapping that ended in the murder of the Head of BRI Cempaka Putih Raya Sub-Branch Office adds to the length of the row of soldiers involved in criminal acts. According to observers, economic pressure has made them tempted to commit criminal acts.

On Thursday (21/8/2025) residents in Karangsambung Village, Nagasari Village, Serang Baru District, Bekasi Regency, were shocked by the discovery of a corpse on the edge of a stretch of rice fields.

Later, it was discovered that he was Mohamad Ilham Pradipta (37), a BRI Head of the Cempaka Putih Raya Sub-Branch Office. At the same time, on social media CCTV footage was spread showing the scene of the kidnapping at a shopping center parking lot.

From there, Ilham Pradipta was kidnapped by a group of people while he was walking out of a building to the car park. Until now, it is known that 15 people have been arrested. However, the public's attention is that of the 15 suspects, two of them are members of the TNI.

They are Corporal Two (Kopda) FH and Sergeant Chief (Serka) N, two members of the TNI who were named suspects in the kidnapping case that led to the murder of Head Mohammad Ilham Pradipta. Both are members of the Special Forces Command (Kopassus).

Based on the results of the examination, the two TNI members were promised Rp100 million in the case. However, the police and the Indonesian Army have not disclosed the names of the perpetrators who paid them for this crime.

Reflecting on this kidnapping case, Jakarta State University social observer Rahmad Hidayat said that the criminal acts committed by the soldiers were motivated by several factors, including the economy. When there is a lucrative economic offer, this is an opportunity.

"Economic pressure that allows the authorities to do this despicable thing," said Rahmad.

In addition, weak control from their leadership can also be a factor. Currently, said Rahmad, Indonesia is not in a state of war, so they end up being 'employed'. Therefore, running an illegal business is one option.

Another factor is the symbiotic relationship of mutualism or mutual benefit between apparatus and service users. However, in this symbiosis, they take deviant actions that are not in accordance with the regulations and military values that should be carried out.

One of the values that may be violated, according to Rahmad, is the value of the military regarding war. There is a motto to destroy opponents. "In that value, the opponents they should destroy are those who threaten sovereignty. Not civilians," said Rahmad.

On the other hand, Sociologist Kriminality from Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Soeprapto assessed that the involvement of members of the TNI in the kidnapping and murder case of Ilham Pradipta was not impossible. Armed with their military capabilities, they can open up opportunities to get requests for kidnapping and murder services.

"There is a possibility that the TNI personnel are assigned to a cluster that is in accordance with their skills. Even though it is certain that the TNI personnel realize that their actions are a form of abuse of expertise," said Soeprapto.

The involvement of members of the TNI in criminal acts is not the first time this has happened. The public certainly remembers when there was a case of theft of a rental car which ended with a shooting at KM 45 of the Tangerang-Merak toll road in early January.

In addition to the murder of the rental boss, there was also the shooting of three police officers by TNI soldiers in Way Kanan, Lampung, in mid-March 2025. The incident that killed three policemen occurred during a cockfighting gambling raid operation by a joint team from the Batin State Police and Way Kanan Police.

The three victims were the Head of the Batin State Police, Inspector Satu Lusiyanto, Brigadier Head Petrus Apriyanto, and Brigadier Dua Ghalib Surya Ganta. They were shot by Kopda Bazarsah, a member of the TNI who also managed the cockfighting.

Amnesty International noted that throughout 2024 there were 55 cases of extrajudicial killings with 55 victims, the majority of whom were from the police and military.

After the murder case of three police officers by TNI personnel in Lampung, Executive Director of Amnesty International Indonesia Usman Hamid said that cases of extrajudicial killing by officers continued to occur due to the existence of an impunity culture within the National Police and the TNI. The perpetrator, said Usman, should be tried through a legal court, not a military court whose process tends to be closed and not transparent.

"Killing outside the law violates the right to life. This cycle of impunity must be stopped immediately so that in the future there will be no more casualties due to abuse of authority by the authorities, both from the TNI and Polri," said Usman.

"Another thing that is also urgent is the massive evaluation of the use of TNI-Polri firearms so that the authorities no longer abuse weapons in the context of service and outside of official duties," he added.

Meanwhile, Jakarta State University social observer Rahmad Hidayat said it was important for TNI officials to be able to carry out early detection, prevention, and mitigation of their members so that they are not involved in repeated criminal networks.

Not only that, strict sanctions must also be given with the aim of providing a deterrent effect and so that no more members do the same thing. "Those involved in criminal acts must be fired from the unit and punished according to the violations they committed," Rahmad concluded.