Investigating The TNI AL Case Of Killing Journalists In South Kalimantan, Komnas HAM Examines Witnesses

Illustration of Komnas HAM. (Between)

JAKARTA - The National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) examined a number of witnesses related to the murder of a journalist Juwita (23) in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan (Kalsel) by a suspect in the Indonesian Navy Classi Satu Jumran.

A number of Komnas HAM commissioners in Banjarbaru, Wednesday, asked for information from three witnesses from the victim's family and the victim's attorney to explore the facts related to the chronology of the murder that killed the female journalist on March 22, 2025.

"We want to know the facts from the statements of the victim's family and their legal counsel. We are examining evidence of communication between the witness and the victim, as well as communication between the witness and the suspect," said Commissioner for Monitoring and Investigation of Komnas HAM RI Uli Parulian Sihombing in a case review in Banjarbaru, Wednesday.

In addition, Komnas HAM also confirmed whether the relevant institutions and parties had recovered the condition of the victim's family.

"Komnas HAM's arrival to Banjarbaru is a form of commitment and full attention to the murder victim who is a female journalist," he said.

Uli emphasized that his party is paying serious attention because this concerns the right to life of someone who has been guaranteed by law, especially since the victim is also a female journalist so it must be investigated further so that similar incidents do not happen again in the future.

Komnas HAM has also coordinated with a number of journalist organizations in the local province to gather various facts to provide several recommendations to law enforcement officials

After holding a meeting with the parties, Komnas HAM inspected the crime scene (TKP) on Jalan Trans Gunung Kupang, Cempaka Village, Cempaka District, Banjarbaru City, accompanied by a number of witnesses from the victim's family.

Uli explained that this visit to the crime scene was a follow-up to the authority of Komnas HAM in carrying out monitoring functions in the field for incidents that claimed human rights to kill a female journalist.

After reviewing the crime scene, he said, his party would then summarize a number of recommendations to be issued as input for law enforcement officers in adjudicating the case so as to provide justice to victims and victims' families.

Komnas HAM has also expressed an attitude so that the authorities implement law enforcement based on scientific crime investigation so that events can be clearly drawn to provide a sense of justice for victims.

"We ask law enforcement officials to uncover this case based on scientific evidence," said Uli.

It is known that Banjarmasin Military Police Detachment (Denpomal) investigators have handed over the murder suspect, TNI AL Classi Satu Jumran, to the Military Odditurat (Odmil) III-15 Banjarmasin on Tuesday, April 8 for further processing and an open trial in military courts.

The victim, Juwita (23) works as a local media journalist on a network (online) in Banjarbaru and has pocketed a journalist competency test (UKW) with the qualifications of young journalists.

The murder took place on March 22, 2025. The young journalist was found dead on Jalan Trans Gunung Kupang, Cempaka Village, Cempaka District, Banjarbaru City, on Saturday, March 22 at around 15.00 WITA.

His body lay on the side of the road with his motorbike which then appeared to be a single accident victim.

Residents who found it for the first time did not see any signs of the victim having a traffic accident. In the neck of the victim there were a number of bruises, and the victim's relatives also said that Juwita's cellphone was not found at the location.