Makassar Polrestabes Set Doctors To Slap Toddlers Into Suspects, Threatened With 3.5 Years In Prison

Kapolrestabes Makassar Kombes Mokhamad Ngajib (left) accompanied by Head of Criminal Investigation Unit AKBP Ridwan Hutagaol (medium) /ANTARA / DArwin Fatir.

Makassar Police, South Sulawesi, named the man with the initials M as a suspect in a case of alleged violence against children under five and was injured in a food stall.

"The determination of the suspect after an examination was carried out, the results of the crime scene (the crime scene) and the results of the post-mortem found one red bruises on the lower lip of the victim," said Makassar Police Chief Kombes Mokhamad Ngajib as reported by ANTARA, Monday, July 31.

He said investigators then increased the status of investigations against suspects because it was reasonable to suspect that there was a criminal act of violence against children.

The suspect was charged with Article 80 paragraph 1 in conjunction with Article 76c of Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection with a maximum penalty of three years and six months in prison.

"(The suspect) was not detained, but the person concerned was obliged to report while we carried out the filing process. Not subject to article 170 (beating) because then the victim was a child so we applied a specialist lex, namely the Child Protection Act," said the former Palembang Police Chief.

Regarding the suspect's mediation efforts with the victim's family, Ngajib said that his party would see the progress of the situation.

"If the victim's family expects there and the suspect also wants to be restored, of course for justice, then the process will be carried out," he said.

Regarding the chronology of the incident, the victim, who was only three years old at that time, spontaneously took a chess piece that the suspect was playing with his partner so that he got emotional and beat the child.

From the results of the examination and combined with surveillance camera (CCTV) footage, the beating was done once. The victim's condition has now improved, but his parents still provide assistance.

Kasat Reskrim Polrestabes Makassar AKBP Ridwan Hutagaol on that occasion added that the incident occurred at a warkop in the Toddopuli Market area, Panakukang District, Makassar on Friday (28/7) night.

From the CCTV footage, the perpetrator spontaneously slapped the back of the victim's head and fell to the floor and resulted in his lips being injured.

"Because the victim happened to be with his father, spontaneously took the chess beans, then the parents immediately reprimanded the child, then this happened," he said.

Suspect M is known to have a doctor's background, but does not have a practice permit. He retired an employee of the South Sulawesi Provincial Health Office and served as Deputy Director of the Makassar City Happy General Hospital.

However, after the case went viral on social media, he was fired from his position as deputy director of the hospital.

"On behalf of myself and my family, I apologize to the family (victim). This case is actually very small, but the exposure is extraordinary, the whole world knows about it. I have no intention (of firing the victim's child). Through this opportunity, once again I apologize to those who feel aggrieved," said suspect M.

"If it is (dismissal) from the hospital, that is their authority. Let alone position, life can be taken. So, regarding positions, it's a loan, I've been fired several times, suddenly dismissed, that's often the case. But, thank God after being dismissed, I was appointed again (worked)," he added.