Jember Police Examines Witness Of Ambulance Destruction Who Was Ingested By Hoax Body Organs Lost COVID-19

JEMBER - Jember Resort Police (Polres) investigators investigated the destruction of an ambulance carrying the body of a positive patient for COVID-19. The mob previously forcibly took the bodies in Pace Village, Jember Regency, East Java.

"We have summoned a number of witnesses, and are still investigating to find clues and other evidence related to the case," said Jember Police Criminal Investigation Unit Head AKP Komang Yogi Arya Wiguna, quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 29.

Residents blocked the Bina Sehat Hospital ambulance carrying the body of a COVID-19 patient and forcibly took the body to open the coffin, then a number of residents broke the glass of the ambulance, in Pace Village, Silo District, Jember Regency, Friday evening, July 23.

"Investigators will investigate all events that occurred in Pace Village, both cases of vandalism of ambulances and cases of health protocols," he said.

As many as 13 witnesses have been questioned regarding the incident of forced retrieval of the bodies of COVID-19 patients and the destruction of an ambulance belonging to the Bina Sehat Hospital that occurred in Pace Village, but the police have not named a suspect in this case.

One of the community leaders, KH Farid Mujib, said that he and eight other people were examined as witnesses in the incident and all those examined were required to undergo an antigen swab test.

"The police called as many as 10 witnesses who were questioned, but one person was sent home because he was confirmed positive for COVID-19," continued AKP Komang.

Before undergoing an investigation at the Jember Police Headquarters, as many as 10 witnesses called by the Jember Police underwent an antigen swab test at the Sumbersari Health Center, and the results were confirmed positive.

He explained that residents took the coffin and took it to the funeral home, because they wanted to be buried normally. However, there are parties who are not responsible for conveying that there are missing body organs.

"People are getting out of control, so I make sure by looking at the bodies of the bodies and no organs are missing. I try to calm the masses," he also said.

The family refused to be buried according to the COVID-19 health protocol, so the body was washed again because there were bloodstains on his face and was buried normally.