Komnas HAM Immediately Investigate the Case of Brimob Beating a Child to Death

Komnas HAM Chair Anis Hidayah/ANTARA

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) will immediately go to the field to investigate the case of a Brimob member who allegedly tortured a madrasah tsanawiah student to death in Tual, Maluku.

Komnas HAM Chairperson Anis Hidayah explained that the investigation was carried out to strengthen the monitoring that had been carried out earlier by Komnas HAM representatives in Maluku.

"Komnas HAM through the representative of Komnas HAM in Maluku has coordinated, gone to the field, and also followed the ethics trial process, but Komnas HAM RI will also immediately go to the field," said Anis as reported by ANTARRA, Tuesday, February 24.

Later, Komnas HAM will investigate information to various parties. Anis ensures that his party will inform the public of the results of the Komnas HAM's investigation.

"Later we will inform you next who we need to call, who we need to meet, and the information data to the extent that we have to get when we go down to the field," said Anis.

Anis further emphasized that the sanction of dismissal with no respect (PTDH) to the suspect, namely Bripda Mesias Viktor Siahaya (MS), was not enough.

"It needs an accountable and transparent criminal legal process for the parties concerned so that impunity does not occur," he continued.

Previously, the Maluku Regional Police officially dismissed Bripda MS, a member of the Brimob, as a suspect in the alleged case of abuse of a child with the initials AT (14) until his death.

The verdict was handed down through a 14-hour Police Professional Ethics Commission (KEPP) meeting, namely from Monday (23/2) at 14.00 WIT to Tuesday at 03.00 WIT in the early morning.

A total of 14 witnesses were examined in the trial, including the alleged perpetrators. Ten witnesses were present directly in the courtroom, consisting of nine members of Brimob and one of the victim's siblings.

Meanwhile, four other witnesses were examined online from the Tual Police, namely two members of the Tual Police and two witnesses from the victim's family.

From the results of the trial, Bripda MS was found guilty of committing a reprehensible act and violating the Code of Ethics of the Police Profession.

However, the person concerned still expressed his thoughts on the panel's decision and was given time to appeal.

Previously, the Tual Police (Polres) in Maluku, had also named Bripda MS as a suspect in this case.

He was charged with Article 76C juncto 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.