LPSK Receives 3 Applications for Protection of Police Cases of Abuse of Teenagers to Death in Tual

The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) building. (ANTARA-HO-LPSK)

JAKARTA - The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) has received three requests for protection related to the case of abuse of law enforcement officers against a child with the initials AT until his death in Tual City, Maluku Province.

Deputy Chairman of the LPSK Susilaningtias said his agency had received three applications for protection from parties directly related to the incident, namely a victim witness, a witness, and the victim's family.

"This incident is an alleged persecution that resulted in serious injuries and led to death. In this context, witnesses and victims' families are entitled to protection and services from the LPSK," Susilaningtias said in a written statement in Jakarta, Tuesday, quoted by Antara.

The protection application includes procedural rights fulfillment services in the form of assistance in the trial process and psychological rehabilitation for victims and families.

In addition to receiving protection requests, LPSK also analyzes threats to map potential social vulnerabilities that may arise as a result of the event, including the risk of horizontal conflicts triggered by issues of ethnicity, religion, race, and social class (SARA).

According to Susilaningtias, the results of the analysis have been conveyed in coordination with the Tual Police to anticipate wider social impacts in the community.

He explained that in the perspective of protecting witnesses and victims, the incident was an alleged act of persecution that caused serious injuries to the child.

In addition to the deceased, the victim's brother who was also a witness suffered serious injuries in the form of broken bones in his right hand.

Based on coordination with law enforcement officers, the suspected perpetrator who is a member of the Brimob has been secured by the Tual Police and then transferred to the Maluku Police to undergo an examination by the Professional and Security Division (Propam).

The proactive steps of the LPSK were initiated by the Maluku region Witness and Victim Friends (SSK) to obtain initial information and build communication with the victim's family. LPSK also coordinated with the Tual Police, Maluku Police through Propam, the Social Service and the Women and Children Protection Unit in Tual City.

The coordination also highlighted the limitations of forensic psychologists in the region to accompany the victims' families. LPSK opened the possibility of facilitating the support of forensic psychology as long as there was an official request from the relevant agencies and the approval of the victim or family.

The provision of protection in this case is carried out based on the mandate of Law Number 13 of 2006 concerning the Protection of Witnesses and Victims as amended by Law Number 31 of 2014 and Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection.