Body Found on Pancala Beach Bima NTB, Police Suspect Cattle Thief Being Chased by Residents

JAKARTA - Police are investigating the discovery of the body of a man with the initials IS (43) floating in the waters of Pancala Beach, Kolo Village, Asakota District, Bima City, West Nusa Tenggara, Tuesday, February 24. Police suspect that the body is a perpetrator of stealing livestock goats that are being sought by residents.

Acting Bima City Police Chief Hariyanto said that the incident was based on a report from the Asakota Police.

"So, it was reported that a man was suspected of committing the crime of stealing livestock goats belonging to residents and was found dead in the waters of Pancala Beach, Kolo Village, Asakota District, this morning," he said in a written statement received in Mataram, Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

From the results of the identification, it was known that the identity of the man's body was the initials IS, aged 43 years, a resident of Lela Lingkungan, Asakota District.

"The body is now being buried at Bima Hospital for further examination and waiting for the family," he said.

From the chronology received by the Asakota Police, Hariyanto explained that the first time Bhabinkamtibmas on Tuesday morning received a call from residents of Kolo Village who lost their livestock goats.

"Based on the information, the victim saw the suspect carrying his goat using a motorcycle," he said.

The victim then immediately shouted "thief" and got a response from the surrounding residents. The alleged perpetrator, who felt that his actions were discovered by the residents, immediately fled by leaving the victim's vehicle and goat.

"The perpetrator fled towards the beach and was chased by residents, his motorcycle was left about 100 meters from the victim's house," he said.

The vehicle left by the suspected perpetrator was reportedly burned by residents on the side of the road. Some residents are still chasing the suspected perpetrator towards the beach.

"Residents who carried out the pursuit saw the suspected perpetrator jump into the sea and swim to the middle," he said.

Residents also tried to persuade the perpetrator to return to land, but the person refused and instead dived to avoid the residents' view.

About an hour later, the perpetrator was reported to no longer be seen on the surface of the sea and was suspected of drowning due to exhaustion.

"Residents continue to search along the coast until to Pancala Wharf and at 06.30 Wita, residents found the alleged perpetrator floating about 30 meters from the wharf," he said.

When examined, the man was already in a state of not breathing and was later evacuated to the edge of Pancala Beach, Kolo Village.

The Asakota Police Criminal Investigation Unit picket officer who knew the information immediately contacted the Inafis Satreskrim Bima City Police.

The Inafis team arrived at the location at around 07.45 Wita and identified the body and had confirmed that the body was a resident of Lela Lingkungan, Jatibaru Village, initials IS.