Police Determine 10 Suspects Of Vandalism And Looting Of The ESDM Office

The ESDM building was destroyed (Photo: Diah Ayu W / VOI)

JAKARTA - The National Police have named 10 suspects in destroying the office of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) when the demonstration riots rejected the ratification of the Job Creation Law.

Head of Public Relations Division of the National Police, Inspector General Argo Yuwono, said that the majority of the suspects were minors. Argo said the suspect would be detained.

"We will show 2, because the other 8 are minors. So, we cannot show them at noon today," said Argo to reporters, Monday, October 12.

From the preliminary evidence gathered, they were not only involved in the destruction. This is because some of them also looted several items.

"There were laptops taken too, so they also looted there," he said.

Argo emphasized that he would process all the suspects at trial. Although some of them are still children.

However, the handling of crimes for child suspects will be different. They will be treated in accordance with the law on the juvenile justice system.

The suspects charged under Article 28 paragraph 2 in conjunction with Article 45 of the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions (ITE), Article 170, Article 214, Article 218 and or Article 358 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Articles 55 and 56 of the Criminal Code.

"We also wear ITE because we found on the cellphone concerned there were words inviting him to hold a demonstration in Jakarta," he said.

Previously reported, the ESDM Ministry Building on Jalan Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jakarta, was damaged. The glass of the building was smashed, the car was also the target of the mob rampage.

VOI monitoring at the location, the car was wrecked and the glass was broken. Unidentified mobs also damaged the glass around the ESDM office.

According to the ESDM Ministry building security guard, 30 people entered and carried out the vandalism. At that time, security personnel and officers sought shelter behind the building.

"Several bags containing laptops and jackets were taken, two computers in the lobby of the ESDM building were taken, the rest were still being recorded," said security guard Asnawi at the location, Thursday, October 8.