Brimob Member of Child Abuse, Tual Police Station Names as Suspect

JAKARTA - The Tual Police, Maluku, have named a member of the Brimob with the initials MS as a suspect in the alleged case of abuse of a child with the initials AT (14), a student of a tsanawiyah madrasah (MTs) which resulted in the victim's death.

"Currently, the survey process has risen to the level of fingerprints and the status of Bripda MS from the reported to the suspect," said Police Chief of Tual AKBP Whansi Des Asmorodi when contacted from Ambon, Saturday.

The Police Chief emphasized that the handling of the case was carried out transparently and openly to the public. "We have promised that the process will be transparent and will not cover anything," he said.

He explained that the criminal process against the suspect was still handled by the Tual Police, while the violation of the code of ethics, Bripda MS, was the authority of the Maluku Regional Police.

"On Saturday morning, Bripda MS was flown to Ambon to undergo an examination at the Maluku Police. The violation that falls under the code of ethics is the authority of Bidpropam, wherever the personnel is on duty," he said.

He added that the criminal process and the code of ethics run in parallel. After undergoing an ethics code examination at the Maluku Police, the suspect will return to the Tual Police to continue the criminal legal process.

The Tual Police also submitted a Letter of Notification of the Development of Investigation Results (SP2HP) to the victim's family on Friday (20/2) evening. Meanwhile, the Letter of Notification of the Start of the Investigation (SPDP) is scheduled to be sent to the Tual District Attorney's Office on Monday (23/2).

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of Tual Police, Aji Prakoso, said his party had examined 14 witnesses, both from the victim and the accused, to strengthen the construction of the case.

"We have examined the paracase, and the testimony of the witnesses is the basis for the process of handling this case," he said.

According to him, with the status of a suspect, Bripda MS was charged with Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.

In addition, the suspect was also charged with Article 466 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the National Criminal Code, regarding persecution which resulted in death, with a maximum penalty of seven years in prison.

Based on the chronology provided by the police, the incident began when the Brimob patrol carried out a condition-creating activity using tactical vehicles in the Tual City and Southeast Maluku Regency areas, Thursday (19/2) early morning.

The patrol was initially at the Mangga Dua Complex, Langgur, until around 02.00 WIT, then shifted to Fiditan Village, Tual City, after receiving reports from residents regarding the alleged beating around the Tete Pancing area.

While at the location, the suspect along with a number of members got out of the vehicle and carried out security. About 10 minutes later, two motorbikes sped at high speed from the direction of Ngadi to Tete Pancing. The suspect is said to have swung the tactical helmet as a signal. However, the helmet hit the right temple of the victim AT (14) until the victim fell from the motorcycle in a prone position.

The victim was then rushed to the Karel Sadsuitubun Langgur Hospital for medical treatment. However, at 13.00 WIT, the victim was declared dead.

After the incident, the victim's family came to Mako Brimob Tual to demand justice. The police responded by immediately securing and arresting Bripda MS on the same day.

Meanwhile, the Maluku Regional Police Chief, Inspector General Dadang Hartanto, emphasized that his institution would not tolerate violations by members.

"We handle this case firmly and in layers. The criminal process is underway, the code of ethics process is also underway. If found guilty, the punishment is clear and firm," he said.

As a form of supervision, the Maluku Regional Police Chief has ordered the Irwasda and the Head of the Propam to conduct an in-depth investigation.

The head of the Maluku Police also apologized to the victim's family for the incident of persecution of madrasah students in Tual.

"We offer our condolences and apologize to the victim's family. This disaster is a serious concern for us and will be handled seriously," said Dadang Hartanto as quoted by ANTARA.