9 People Suspected of Clashing in Illegal Gold Mine Ratatotok Minahasa

MANADO - A total of nine people were named as suspects after a clash between residents at the Unlicensed Gold Mining (PETI) Ratatotok, Minahasa Tenggara Regency, North Sulawesi.

"The police have secured 12 suspected perpetrators of clashes between residents who occurred in Bronjong, Ratatotok, on Saturday, December 20, 2025, which caused three people to die and one person to be seriously injured. Nine of them were named as suspects," said the Head of the North Sulawesi Police Criminal Investigation Unit, AKBP Suryadi, as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, December 23.

The suspects are FG (34) from Basaan 1, MT (26) from Tombatu, BT (31) from Silian, MW (39) from Silian, GT (26) from Silian, AL (28) from Silian.

Then NT (43) a resident of Silian, BL (30) a resident of Kawangkoan Village, FP (28) a resident of North Tombatu Village.

The clash between residents occurred on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at around 12.00 WITA.

Previously, a number of people were known to gather at a resident's house and then move to the Bronjong location with sharp weapons and homemade air guns.

"Upon arrival at the location, an attack occurred which caused three victims to die on the spot and another victim to be seriously injured," explained AKBP Suryadi.

In this incident, the police also seized a number of evidence, including two PCP-type homemade air guns, two ordinary air guns, four sharp-edged weapons, and two machetes.

Regarding the weapon that allegedly caused the victim's death, the Dirreskrimum explained that the projectile found in the victim's body was suspected to have come from an improvised air rifle with a caliber of about eight millimeters.

"At the scene, there were allegedly more than four air guns. The investigation is still being developed to trace other weapons as well as the parties involved and have not been caught," he added.

Police Chief of Mitra AKBP Handoko Sanjaya said that of the nine suspects, one person with the initials WM was suspected of being the main perpetrator and was suspected of premeditated murder.

"Eight other suspects are suspected of playing a role in bringing and using sharp weapons and air guns. We are still investigating the role of each of them," said the Police Chief.

The Police Chief ensured that the security and public order conditions in Ratatotok were currently conducive.

"We appeal to the public to remain calm, not easily provoked by issues that are not clear about their truth, and together to maintain the kamtibmas situation," he said.