TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 17 officers of the West Sumatra Regional Police are under investigation for violating standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the arrest of teenagers involved in a brawl, which resulted in the death of 13-year-old Afif Maulana (AM).

“There are currently 17 members being examined,” Head of the Public Relations Unit of the West Sumatra Regional Police, Sr. Comr. Dwi Sulistyawan, told Tempo on Friday, June 28.

He said the police found "unethical actions" during the investigation into the officers' conduct. While no procedural errors were found, the officers' actions were not following SOPs as they conducted beatings.

The investigation is still ongoing, and any potential sanctions will be determined during a violation trial process. “Sanctions depend on the severity of the violation because none of the victims have been examined,” Dwi explained.

Afif Maulana's body was found in the Kuranji River on June 9, 2024, at 11:55 local time, following a reported clash between a group of teenagers on motorbikes and police officers who were dispersing them due to concerns about gang violence. The teenagers were reportedly carrying sharp weapons.

Police apprehended several individuals and confiscated weapons from the scene, including a motorbike belonging to AM which was driven by his friend.

The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Padang suspected that AM died from police abuse based on their investigation and witness statements.

INTAN SETIAWANTY

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