KUPANG - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Police Chief Inspector General Lotharia Latif ordered a number of police chiefs to arrest anyone who dared to take the bodies of COVID-19 patients at the hospital (RS).

"We no longer tolerate it for any reason, if it still happens I have to order the Chief of the Regional Police to arrest anyone who dares to forcibly take the body of a COVID-10 patient. We will give punishment according to the applicable law," he said in Kupang, quoted by Antara, Thursday, July 22.

This was conveyed in connection with the rampant cases of forced retrieval of the bodies of patients who have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 at Siloam Hospital in the last few days.

The video of the forced taking of the body of the COVID-19 patient by the victim's family was widely circulated on a number of social media and spread not only in NTT.

The Regional Police Chief said the role of the perpetrators of taking the bodies of COVID-19 patients, if they did it again, they would definitely be punished and charged with Articles 212 to 218 of the Criminal Code and Article 93 of Law 16 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine.

According to him, the safety of everyone, especially the people of NTT, is everything, therefore, don't let high emotions end up causing unwanted things.

"In my opinion, the safety of the people is everything, don't be emotional when you take them," said Inspector General Latif.

The police are currently investigating the cases of forcibly taking the bodies of the COVID-19 victims.

The Regional Police Chief admitted that he had ordered the Resort Police Chief to carry out swabs for several people who had forced the COVID-19 positive bodies to be taken.

He appealed to residents who want to see their family or relatives who died due to COVID-19 for the last time, they are expected to coordinate wisely.

"Without having to take it by force," said the Kapolda.


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