Eka Yudha Saputra, Jakarta – The Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) and the Marimoi Legal Aid (LBH) have urged the North Maluku Police to investigate a report of alleged torture done by a North Halmahera police personnel to a college student over a criticism the student made. The student criticized how the police handled a recent demonstration.
The student, identified as Yulius Yatu or Ongen, had reportedly been tortured by four police officers on September 20, as stated in a recent KontraS report. He criticized how police guarded a mass protest against the rising fuel prices through the student's Whatsapp status.
One day after he updated his status, four unknown men arrived at his house at 9 pm and asked questions regarding the student's identity. Yatu suddenly received a violent beating in his face, strangled, and dragged outside his home.
"When the victim was dragged away, the perpetrators continued to beat the victim that heavily bruised his eyes, lashed his lips, and was strangled once again until the victim passed out," said KontraS legal division Abimanyu Septiadji in a statement on October 6.
In his official report, the act of violence continued to the North Halmahera Police station until Yatu begged for the beating to stop. "The victim was forced to do push-ups once he was no longer able to stay awake," he added.
This torture, according to the KontraS report, lasted for two hours until one of the suspects' took him home.
"We urge the National Police Chief to remove the North Halmahera Police Chief, for allowing his members to let this heinous event happen," KontraS and LBH said in a joint statement.
Previously, the Head of Sub-Directorate I of the North Maluku Police criminal unit, Police Commissioner M Arinta Fauzi stated that the agency through Police internal affairs division (Propam) promised to investigate this alleged abuse case in accordance with applicable legal provisions.