18 Witnesses In Malang Tragedy Cases Of Protection, LPSK Chairperson: The Form Is Equipped With Needs

LPSK Chairman Hasto Atmojo Suroyo. (Photo via ANTARA/Vicki Febrianto)

Head of the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) Hasto Atmojo Suroyo said his party would provide protection for 18 witnesses to the Malang tragedy case.

He revealed that the protection provided would be adjusted according to the needs of each witness. But he said the protection was in the form of physical or procedural assistance.

The procedural assistance was given to witnesses when questioned by the East Java Regional Police Investigator (Polda).

"Until now there are 18 people protected consisting of the victim and the victim's family," said Hasto, as quoted from Antara, Saturday, November 5.

According to him, the protection was given by LPSK to witnesses to protect victims or victims' families from intimidation efforts. This protection is provided so that witnesses do not experience pressure in the current legal process.

"We are safeguarding the victim and the victim's family so that they are not intimidated and threatened. If they need physical protection, we will give them," he said.

For information, LPSK provides attached protection to one of the victims' families, namely Devi Athok. Devi Athok is the father of two victims who died with the initials NBR (16) and NDA (13) who were autopsied on Saturday, November 5.

Previously, Devi Athok had canceled the autopsy action on her two children. At that time, the East Java Regional Police (Polda) stated that the victim's family did not approve the autopsy process.

As is known, the Malang tragedy has claimed 135 lives. The victims reportedly suffered fractures, trauma to the head, neck, and asphysia or reduced oxygen levels in the body. In addition, it was reported that hundreds of people suffered minor and serious injuries.