Police Admit 'Procedural Error' in Handling Teenager Brawl in Padang City

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Sumatra Regional Police Chief Inspector General Suharyono admitted that his members had procedural errors in handling 18 teenagers suspected of being involved in brawls in Padang City.

He mentioned that 45 members of the Kuranji Sectoral Police exceeded their authority in handling the teenagers. "There are 45 personnel who were questioned by Propam (Police Internal Affairs) related to 18 people probed at the Kuranji Police," said Suharyono as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, June 26, 2024.

Based on Suharyono's explanation, two locations were used by the police to handle the teenagers’ brawl, namely the Kuranji Bridge and the Kuranji Police Station. The police claimed there was no mishandling at the Kuranji Bridge. 

"At the Kuranji Police Station, some personnel exceeded their authority," he said when meeting Afif Maulana's family and their legal representatives who staged a protest in front of the West Sumatra Police.

The case of alleged torture arose when the body of Afif Maulana (AM) was discovered on the surface of the river under Kuranji Bridge at around 11:55 a.m. WIB (Western Indonesia Time) on Sunday, June 9, 2024. The finding was then reported to the Kuranji Sectoral Police. Police officers immediately went to the location to carry out further investigations.

Before AM's body was discovered, there was friction between a motorbike convoy and several police officers who were tasked to disperse the teenagers.

Police officers arrested dozens of teenagers allegedly involved in the brawl, dozens of sharp weapons, and AM’s motorbike driven by his peer.

ANTARA

Editor’s Choice: Police Reported as Perpetrators of Most Torture Acts in Indonesia: Komnas HAM, KontraS

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News