Police Investigate the Death of a Journalist in North Sumatra
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21 June 2021 11:33 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The North Sumatra Police spokesperson Grand. Comm. Hadi Wahyudi on Monday asserts that there is an ongoing investigation towards the killing of journalist Marasalem Harahap on June 19.
Initial reports suggest the journalist was found dead after he was shot by an unidentified person not far from his home.
“We are still investigating it thoroughly. We will announce any updates in the future,” said the North Sumatra police spokesperson on June 21.
Marasalem Harahap, who is the chief editor of LasseNewsToday.com, was found dead inside his car on the early dawn of Saturday at the Simalungun Regency. Police found a bullet wound on Harahap’s left leg.
Police said an autopsy at the Bhayangkara Medan Hospital is ongoing to determine the cause of death of the journalist while a crime scene investigation is also being conducted.
The motive behind the shooting is still being investigated as the police’s head of public relations grand commissioner MP Nainggolan said that “we are yet able to determine whether [the shooting] is linked to the news report of the late Marasalem Harahap or whether it is motivated by reasons outside of his profession.”
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ANDITA RAHMA | SAHAT SIMATUPANG