Police Delay Reconstruction Of Child Abuse Cases In Ships At Makassar Port

The location of the incident is the alleged child abuse of the victim Dicky Perdana to death on the ship KM Dharma Kencana 7 while docking at Makassar Port, South Sulawesi, Monday (18/7/2022). ANTARA/Darwin Fatir.

MAKASSAR - The Makassar Port Police Criminal Investigation Unit postponed the reconstruction of the child abuse case named Dicky Perdana (12) which resulted in the death of the victim at KM Dharma Kencana 7 on June 24.

"So for today's planned reconstruction process, there are only two witnesses, (they) have not been able to attend so our reconstruction has been postponed," said Head of the Makassar Port Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Iptu Prawirawan Wardana, as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, July 18.

The postponement of the reconstruction was because the key witnesses were still under intensive examination, so it was decided to postpone it for the time being.

"We plan to reconstruct it as soon as possible. The reason for this delay is because the witness is still under investigation. Two witnesses did not attend. For the reconstruction plan, there are more than 100 reconstructed scenes, the number will depend on the recon," said Prawirawan.

He could not confirm the date of reconstruction because there are several supporting factors that have not met the requirements. However, they are trying to do it as soon as possible.

Initially the reconstruction will be carried out at the scene, on the ship. There were six suspects presented, each with the initials IS, M, and M, who were ship guards. Two crew members WA and HI and one passenger with the initials RN (adjutant to the Kendal Prison).

From the information obtained, the two witnesses who failed to attend the reconstruction are suspected to be members of the Indonesian Navy and are still under investigation at their unit.

Meanwhile, the victim's mother, Ratnawati, said she was disappointed that the reconstruction process had been delayed, even though she really hoped that from the results there would be a bright spot for the alleged case of child abuse.

"I want justice, those who are guilty are still wrong. If I (ask them) to be punished severely, even though my child's life will not be replaced with the punishment. The punishment is severe, even though my child's life is not worth the punishment," he stressed.

Previously, Dicky Perdana was allegedly mistreated by a number of people aboard the KM Dharma Kencana 7 ship for being accused of stealing a cell phone. The incident took place on June 24, 2022, during a boat trip from Surabaya to Makassar with his parents and two younger siblings.

The victim was arrested for being accused of stealing the passenger's cellphone, allegedly belonging to the head of the Kendal Detention Center which was charged by his aide in a public place.

Several people then took the victim to a special room where he was separated from his parents. Later, when the ship docked at Makassar Port, the victim was declared dead with bruises after the victim's body was received by his parents.