JAKARTA: The Indonesian National Commission on Human Rights has opened an investigation into the alleged killing of a 13-year-old boy in the hands of the police earlier this month amid mounting calls for justice.
The case has also cast a spotlight on an increasing number of torture cases by law enforcement agencies in Indonesia over the last three years.
Mr Hari Kurniawan, an official at the commission, on Tuesday (Jun 25) told local media that they are investigating the death of Afif Maulana – a schoolboy in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province – allegedly in the hands of the police.
“Afif’s death was unnatural, and we suspect unlawful actions by the police,” he was quoted as saying by The Jakarta Post.
Investigators from the commission have since been deployed to the province to gather evidence, though it is unclear when they will present their findings.
Defending the police force, West Sumatra police chief Inspector General Suharyono – who like many Indonesians goes by one name – denied that his officers had a hand in Afif’s death.
However, he said that there may have been “procedural errors” in handling the teenage brawl and added that 45 officers are currently under investigation by the unit.
“If found guilty, we will take firm action and inform the public about the punishment,” said Mr Suharyono.
Earlier, Mr Suharyono warned that his team was looking for the person who made the torture allegations viral, adding that the police force felt they had undergone a trial by the press.
Stressing that there was no evidence linking the cops to Afif’s death, Mr Suharyono said such allegations had damaged the image of the police force.
Responding to CNA’s queries, a senior official at Indonesia’s Ministry of Women Empowerment and Child Protection said that the case must be revealed to the public.
“This case must be revealed to the public so that it becomes clear, and if it involves children who are in conflict with the law, make sure the rights of children are fulfilled,” Mr Nahar, who is Deputy Minister for Child Protection at the ministry, told CNA.
WHAT HAPPENED
Afif’s bruised body was found by residents under a bridge in Padang in West Sumatra province on Jun 9.
The Padang Legal Aid Institute – an institution that has a role in providing legal assistance for torture crimes that occurred in West Sumatra – alleges in a report that Afif died after he was tortured by the police, who had stopped him and his friends on suspicion of attempting to incite brawls, Indonesian news outlet Kompas reported.
Ms Indira Suryani, director of the institute, said that Afif was riding a motorcycle with his friend – who was identified as “A” – across the Batang Kuranji Bridge when they were approached by officers on patrol.
“When the police approached, (one of the officers) kicked the victim’s vehicle. Afif was thrown to the side of the road …, “ Ms Indira alleges.
Based on A’s statement, he was separated from Afif, who was then surrounded by several policemen wielding rattan canes. He was unaware of his friend’s condition until Afif’s body was discovered under the bridge.
“From that information and the bruises all over the body, it is highly suspected that Afif Maulana was mistreated before he died,” Ms Indira said.
Investigations conducted independently by the Padang Legal Aid Institute found that seven other people – including five children – had similar encounters with the police that day.
There were also reports of sexual harassment, with victims allegedly being forced to kiss police officers. The injuries sustained by Afif and other victims allegedly resulted from rattan beatings, kicks, electric shocks, and cigarette burns.
“This mistreatment was aimed at forcing confessions about the (suspected) brawl,” said Ms Indira.
Police have since denied the allegations, and said that a team was deployed to prevent and manage frequent brawls occurring every Sunday night.
Head of the Padang Police Criminal Investigation Unit Deddy Adriansyah Putra was quoted by Antara as saying that the gang dispersed upon seeing the officers, with many abandoning their weapons.
“Various weapons, such as celurit (sickle), were secured by officers at the scene, and 18 individuals were detained …, ” he said.
The police also obtained information from Afif’s friend, who was with him during the incident.
“We learned that when officers approached, the victim asked his friend to jump (into the river). However, his friend chose to surrender instead,” said Mr Deddy.
Ms Anggun Anggriani has demanded justice for her son and said that police had not approached the family for information since Afif’s death.
The Padang Legal Aid Institute, along with students, have since held a demonstration demanding justice for the schoolboy’s death in front of the West Sumatra Police Station, with participants dressed in black.
INCREASE IN TORTURE CASES INVOLVING LAW ENFORCEMENT
Amnesty International Indonesia has documented an increase in torture cases by Indonesian law enforcement agencies over the past three years. From 2021 to 2022, there were at least 15 cases involving 25 victims.
The number then rose to 16 cases with 26 victims between 2022 and 2023, before surging to 30 cases with 49 victims in the past year.
Data from Amnesty International Indonesia showed that the bulk of the perpetrators were from the police force (75 per cent), followed by military personnel (19 per cent), combined military and police personnel (5 per cent) and prison officers (1 per cent).
Earlier this year, a suspected offender was returned dead to his parents by police officers in Ketapang, West Kalimantan. Following this incident, five officers were removed from their posts, and legal proceedings are ongoing.
