TNI AD Process Report 1 Soldier Allegedly Related To Family Journalist Burned To Death

North Sumatra Regional Police personnel conducted a crime scene at the victim's house, Rico Perfect Pasaribu, on Nagung Surbakti Street, Karo Regency. (HO-North Sumatra Police Public Relations Division)

Head of the Information Service of the Indonesian Army (Kadispenad) Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi said his staff would follow up on reports regarding the involvement of TNI AD soldiers in the murder case of journalist Rico Perfect Pasaribu in a burning house incident in Medan, North Sumatra (North Sumatra).

"That the TNI AD, in this case Puspomad, will follow up on the report and coordinate with Pomdam I/BB, because the locus delictity of the incident was in the Kodam I/BB area," Kristomei said when confirmed in Jakarta, Friday, July 12, confiscated by Antara.

Kristomei appreciated the efforts of the victims' families who wanted to report to the Army Military Police Center (Puspomad) regarding the alleged involvement of Indonesian Army personnel.

This is considered very helpful for the TNI AD in taking firm action against those who commit criminal acts.

If later it is proven that there are individuals involved in the murder case, Kristomei ensures that he will take action against soldiers in accordance with applicable legal provisions.

"However, we continue to prioritize the principle of presumption of innocence, don't draw conclusions too quickly," he said.

Rico Perfect Pasaribu's family, a journalist who was killed in a house fire incident in Medan, reported a member of the Indonesian Army, namely Koptu HB from the Simbisa 125 Kabanjahe Infantry Battalion to Puspomad in Gambir, Central Jakarta, Friday 12 July afternoon.

HB was reported to Puspomad because he was suspected of being one of the masterminds behind the killing of Rico and his family.

According to the attorney for the Rico family, Irfan Saputra, HB was reported several times by Rico because he was suspected of being involved in gambling activities within the TNI.

The news also spread, making HB ask the media where Rico worked to reduce the news.

"There were also conversations about the existence of calls several times from what we reported, which allegedly were members of the TNI to their Pimred (Rico) to take down the previously carried out news," said Irfan Saputra at Puspomad, Gambir, Central Jakarta.

Not only that, Rico also asked for protection several times from the police because he often received threats from individuals believed to be members of the TNI.

The threat is often accepted after Rico after reporting several times about HB's involvement in gambling activities.

Because of this evidence, Irfan and the victim's family ventured to report HB to Puspomad.

Irfan continued, his party had submitted several pieces of evidence in the form of evidence for the conversation between the social media application between Rico and HB.

His party has also provided evidence of a conversation between HB and the media where Rico works regarding the request to reduce the news.

Irfan hopes that Puspomad will seriously investigate the report in order to reveal other suspects behind suspect B, RAS and YT who had previously been arrested.

The North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda) has again named a new suspect suspected of being involved in the burning of the Rico Perfect Pasaribu journalist's house on Jalan Nambung Surbakti, Karo Regency.

"We have named B as a new suspect in the case of the burning of Rico Perfect Pasaribu's house," said Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police, Kombes Pol Hadi Wahyudi in Medan, July 11.

Hadi said B was arrested in Karo Regency after officers arrested the executor of the burning of the victim's house, namely RAS on Saturday 6 July and YT, Sunday 7 July.

According to him, it was suspect B who ordered the other two perpetrators to burn the house of the victim Rico Perfect Pasaribu

"Suspect B ordered YT to burn, and gave Rp130 thousand to RAS to buy Pertalite oil and diesel used to burn the victim's house," said Hadi.

He said RAS was preparing by motorbike. After the fire started, the two perpetrators fled and threw away a bottle of used fuel oil (BBM) about 30 meters from the scene.

"This arson was recorded very clearly from the analysis of surveillance cameras or CCTV around the victim's house. Perfect Pasaribu," he said.

The fire incident resulted in four fatalities, namely Rico Perfect Pasaribu, Effrida Boru Ginting (wife), Sudiinveseti Pasaribu (child), and Lowi Situngkir (grandson) on Thursday, June 27 in the morning.