Handled By The Southeast Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, The Case Of A Wakatobi DPRD Member Suspect Of Persecution Kills Children Rises Investigation

Illustration of police officers while escorting prisoners at the Southeast Sulawesi Police. BETWEEN/La Ode Muh Deden Saputra

Investigators from the General Criminal Investigation Directorate of the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police (Polda Sultra) have transferred the murder case file with the suspect, a member of the Wakatobi Regency DPRD, Litao alias La Lita, to the Southeast Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office (Kejati).

Paur Penmas Subbid Penmas Polda Sultra Ipda Hasrun said that the handling of cases of abuse against minors which resulted in the death was handled intensively by investigators.

"After being named a suspect and his case has gone up to the investigation stage, investigators have now transferred the case file to the Southeast Sulawesi High Prosecutor's Office. The case file has been sent to the Prosecutor's Office," said Hasrun when met in Kendari, Tuesday, in the same case.

He said that currently investigators from the Ditreskrimum Polda Sultra are coordinating to wait for the results of the research by the Southeast Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office regarding the completeness of the files for the transfer of files and suspects or P21 to the Litao case.

"With the transfer of files to the Southeast Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office, the legal process against the LT suspect (Litao) is now just waiting for the results of research from the prosecutor's office before continuing to the next stage," he said.

Previously, the attorney for the family of the murder victim from the Wa Ode Nur Zainab & Partners Legal Office, La Ode Muhammad Sofyan Nurhasan, welcomed the police's move to determine the Wakatobi DPRD member as a suspect in the 2014 murder case.

According to him, the determination of the suspect is a new hope for the families of the victims who have sought justice to punish their children 11 years ago.

"We welcome the determination of the suspect by the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police, even though he has been designated as a DPO since 2014. Regarding accusations of politicization, it is refuted by itself because of the fact that the perpetrator has been named a suspect since 2014," explained Sofyan.

After the 2014 murder, Litao fled to avoid the legal process. The protracted investigation made Litao on the Wakatobi Police wanted list (DPO).

However, after that, Litao was able to qualify as a legislative candidate in the 2024 General Election and was elected until he was appointed as a member of the Wakatobi Regency DPRD on October 1, 2024.

In fact, Litao's involvement in the persecution case that led to the death of the victim was clearly stated in the Baubau District Court Decision Number: 55/Pid.B/2015/PN.Bau dated June 29, 2015.

Litao is one of three perpetrators who abused a child named Wiranto until he died. Two other perpetrators have been convicted and have already served their sentences.