The Chairperson Of The TJN Padepokan Becomes A Suspect Of A Death Ritual At Payangan Beach, Jember

Jember Police Chief AKBP Hery Purnomo shows evidence of the deadly ritual case at Payangan Beach at a press conference held at the Jember Police Headquarters, East Java, Wednesday (16/2/2022). ANTARA/Zumrotun Solichah

JEMBER - The chairman of Padepokan Tunggal Jati Nusantara (TJN) Nur Hasan has been named a suspect in a deadly ritual case that killed 11 people at Payangan Beach, Jember Regency, East Java.

"Today we are holding the case again after its status was raised from investigation to investigation. Brother NH has been named a suspect and is currently being detained by investigators," said Jember Police Chief AKBP Hery Purnomo, quoted by Antara, Wednesday, February 16.

According to him, investigators believe that the person concerned has been proven guilty and has fulfilled his criminal element with Article 359 of the Criminal Code based on examination of the statements of witnesses and added other evidence.

"The fact is that it was NH who initiated the ritual activities at Payangan Beach on Saturday (12/2) to Sunday (13/2) which killed 11 people, so that the most responsible and those who ordered their members to enter the sea water are the suspects," he said.

According to him, the suspect had been warned by the caretaker of Mount Samboja, Pak Sladin, not to hold the ritual too close to the sea because at that time the weather was bad with high waves, but the suspect ignored it and continued to hold the ritual in a dangerous place.

"Based on the suspect's confession, ritual activities at Payangan Beach have been carried out for 7 times, but previously they were only carried out on the beach and in a safe location from waves. On Sunday (13/2) yesterday it was carried out until it entered the water and the location was dangerous because it was hit by the waves," he said.

In carrying out the ritual at Payangan Beach, he continued, the suspect ordered his members to enter the sea water, causing them to be dragged by high waves, causing 11 people to die.

"The suspect NH was charged with Article 359 of the Criminal Code regarding negligence which caused the loss of a person's life with the threat of imprisonment of more than 5 years," he said.

Meanwhile, the evidence that has been secured by the police is in the form of two vehicles and clothes from the victims who drowned on Payangan Beach while carrying out ritual activities.