TNI AD Asks Residents Who Have Been Victims Of Praka RM Cs To Report To Pomdam

Head of the Army Information Service (Kadispenad) Brigadier General Hamim Tohari. BETWEEN/HO-Dispenad

The Indonesian Army asked residents who had been victims of kidnapping and extortion by Praka RM, Praka J, and Praka HS to report the incident to the Jaya Military Police (Pomdam).

Head of the Army Information Service (Kadispenad) Brigadier General Hamim Tohari explained that reports from victims could help deepen the kidnapping, extortion and abuse cases carried out by the three TNI AD soldiers which are currently being handled by Pomdam Jaya.

"From the provisional results, indeed (the kidnapping and extortion, ed.) was carried out more than once. However, we also actually yesterday from Pomdam hoped that other victims who had experienced the same thing were invited to report," said Kadispenad as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 13.

Praka RM, Praka J, and Praka HS, together with a civilian with the initials ZSS (Prika RM's brother-in-law), committed a criminal act of kidnapping, extortion, and mistreatment of two civilians. One of the civilians who died in that case was Imam Masykur (aged 25).

Praka RM is known to be a member of Paspampres, while Praka HS is a member of the Topographic Directorate of the Indonesian Army and Praka J is a member of the Iskandar Muda Regional Military Command.

Imam Masykur is an immigrant from Aceh who works as a guard at a cosmetic shop in the Rempoa area, South Tangerang, Banten. Imam was kidnapped by the perpetrators on August 12, 2023.

At the time of the incident, to the victim and local residents, the perpetrators claimed to be police officers. Based on the results of an initial examination by the Military Police of Kodam Jaya, the victim is known to be involved in the illegal drug trade.

When kidnapped and persecuted, Imam contacted his family and asked for a ransom of Rp. 50 million.

The victim's voice recording when contacting his family and the video footage of the victim being tortured by the perpetrator was spread on social media. The victim's family also reported the kidnapping and torture of Imam to the Polda Metro Jaya. The report was received by the police with the Number STTLP/B/4776/VIII/2023/SPKT.

From the victim's family report to the police, the Military Police of Kodam Jaya started the legal process for the three TNI AD soldiers on August 14, 2023.

The three soldiers are still being held at the Jaya Military Police Detention Center in Guntur, Jakarta, after they were named suspects in the kidnapping, extortion and abuse cases that led to death.

Hamim conveyed that Pomdam Jaya investigators are currently almost finalizing the filing related to the case. The hope is that the case can be transferred to the Military Oditurat (Otmil) by the end of September 2023.

"This is currently in the process of completing the filing. Hopefully by the end of this month it can be transferred to the Military Oditur for appointment in court," said Hamim.