Wind Inflated Tear Gas The Reason Judge Sentenced Free 2 Police Defendant Of The Judicial Tragedy, Police: We Respect The Court

Security forces fired tear gas to dispel supporters who entered the field after the BRI Liga 1 match between Arema and Persebaya at the Kanjuruhan Stadium, Malang, East Java, Saturday night, October 1, 2022. (A

JAKARTA - The Panel of Judges at the Surabaya District Court (PN) acquitted two police officers in the Kanjuruhan Tragedy case. The National Police respects the court's decision against the 2 members.

The two members of the National Police are the former Head of Malang Police Ops Kompol Wahyu Setyo Pranowo and the former Head of Samapta Malang Police AKP Bambang Sidik Achmadi.

"In principle, we respect the court's decision," said the Head of the Public Relations Division of the National Police Inspector General Dedi Prasetyo to reporters, Friday, March 17.

However, when he was further mentioned about the decision, Dedi was reluctant to comment much. He only emphasized that the decision was the domain of the court and the authority of the panel of judges.

"That is already the domain of the court," said Dedi.

AKP Kompol Wahyu Setyo Pranowo and former Head of Samapta Malang Police AKP Bambang Sidik Achmadi were declared not legally proven to have committed criminal acts in accordance with the prosecutor's indictment.

Thus, they were acquitted, which means that it is much lighter than the prosecutor's demands. In fact, both of them were sentenced to 3 years in prison.

In the judge's decision, both of them were considered innocent because of the tear gas that was shot by the wind.

"Considering the fact that the shooting of tear gas by Samapta members under the command of the defendant Bambang at that time was smoke produced by a tear gas shot by troops driven by the wind to the south towards the center of the field," said the judge.

"And when the smoke reached the edge of the field, the wind was blowing up and it never reached the south tribune," continued the judge.