AM Child Death Case In Padang, KPAI Allegedly Tortured By Police Officers

KPAI Commissioner Subguduan Dian Sasmita gave a press statement in Purwokerto, Banyumas Regency, Wednesday (5/7/2023). ANTARA/Sumarwoto

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI) views the case of death of a child victim with the initials AM (13) in the city of Padang, West Sumatra, and 11 other children who suffered physical and psychological injuries as torture allegedly carried out by police officers.

"The case of a child in Padang City that resulted in one person's death, namely AM and eleven other children suffered physical and psychological injuries which were allegedly carried out by police officers was torture," said KPAI member Dian Sasmita when contacted in Jakarta, Thursday, July 4, as reported by Antara.

Dian said KPAI received a complaint on the case on June 24, 2024 from the Padang Legal Aid Institute (LBH) and had made a series of efforts to gather information.

His party found that the place where AM's body was found was a shallow river and the bridge's height was estimated to be five meters.

"Temporary developments, the case of AM's death is still considered insufficient evidence by the Police. Even though several facts have been present in the public, including photos of injuries on AM's body and other children," said Dian Samita.

In addition, there were a number of children who were taken to the courtyard of the Kuranji Police, Padang, and tortured.

"Violence was carried out in the courtyards of the Kuranji Police and the West Sumatra Police by a number of police officers on duty that night. The children said that they were stabbed with cigarettes, kicks, punches, stuns, and other cruel treatment. They even wore underwear during torture and there was no drinking water at all," said Dian.

Dian said the torture experienced by AM to death and 11 other children who suffered physical and psychological injuries were deemed to have violated Law Number 5 of 1998.

Indonesia itself has ratified the Convention Against Torture and Other Implementation or Punishment That Is Cruel, Not Human, Or Reaps Human Dignity (UN CAT) through Law Number 5 of 1998.

Previously, a boy with the initials AM (13) was found by residents who had been killed floating under the Kuranji Bridge, Padang, West Sumatra on Sunday 9 June. Apart from AM, it is suspected that there were a number of children who were tortured by West Sumatra Police officers during a patrol to secure the brawl.