Persecutors Of Journalist In North Sumatra Arrested By Police, Here's The Chronology

MEDAN - North Sumatra Police Criminal Investigation Director, Grand Commissioner Pol Tatan Dirsan Atmaja said suspect Awaluddin (26), a resident of Mompang Village, played a role in hitting victim Jeffry Barata Lubis, a journalist who served in Mandailing Natal (Madina) Regency.

"The suspect, Awaluddin, hit the victim's right cheek once and invited his friends to gather," said Tatan, when explaining the case at the North Sumatra Police Headquarters, Monday.

Tatan said that the Directorate of Criminal Investigation at the North Sumatra Police together with the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Madina Police arrested four suspects for persecuting Jeffry Barata Lubis, a journalist in Madina Regency.

The four suspects are Awaluddin (26) a resident of Mompang Village, North Panyabungan District, Madina Regency, Selamat (36) a resident of Sigalapung Julu Village, Panyabungan District, Madina Regency, Edy Mansyur Rangkuti (41) a resident of Pasar Maga, Lembah Sorik Merapi Subdistrict, Kabupaten Madina, and Rasoki (40) a resident of Bermula Ujung Street, Sipolu-polu Village, Panyabungan District, Madina Regency.

"The four suspects have their respective roles," he said.

"In this case, we examined nine witnesses. The beating was because the suspects were offended after knowing that the head of the PP on behalf of Ahmad Arjun Nasution was reported by the victim regarding illegal mining," he said.

Tatan said the incident of mistreatment of victim Jeffry in Lopo Mandailing Kopi, Pidoli Lomban Village, Panyabungan District, Madina Regency, occurred Friday (4/3) at around 19.30 western Indonesia time. The victim suffered lacerations on his face and bruises on his body, so he reported the case to the Madina Police.

The suspect was arrested Tuesday (7/3) at around 08.00 western Indonesia time at his hiding place in the Rambung Gardens, Promise Manahan Village, Batang Onan District, North Padang Lawas Regency (Paluta).

From the disclosure of the case, the police confiscated evidence from each suspect, namely trousers, belts, two motorbikes, ID cards, necklaces, cellphones and others.

"The suspects are charged with Article 170 paragraph (1) subsidiary 351 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code on Persecution together with the threat of a sentence of more than five years," said Tatan accompanied by the Head of Public Relations of the North Sumatra Police, Grand Commissioner Pol. Hadi Wahyudi.