Rachel Farahdiba Regar, Jakarta – Jakarta Metro Police Chief Insp. Gen. Karyoto asserted that the patrol activities of the force's Precision Team could not be blamed in the case of the discovery of 7 bodies in the Bekasi River on Sunday, September 22.
The team, he said, was only patrolling the area to prevent a street brawl or tawuran among teenagers. "The patrol was an appropriate behavior. I say the patrol did nothing wrong," the chief said on September 22, 2024.
Karyoto's statement was related to information about 7 teenagers suspected to be the perpetrators of the brawl who died in the Bekasi River. The suspicion stems from the fact that a day before their bodies were found, on September 21 at around 03:00 a.m., the Bekasi Metro Police patrol team had dispersed a group of teenagers suspected of starting a brawl at Cipendawa Baru Road, Rawalumbu District.
At the location, a group of teens scattered as the patrol team approached, with some jumping into the Bekasi River. "They threw themselves into the river because they were afraid of a patrol passing by," Karyoto said.
Although he believes the Precision Team was not the cause of the deaths of the seven teenagers, Karyoto said he would continue to investigate. Karyoto wants to ensure and evaluate the patrol process that took place and how it led to the teenagers daring to throw themselves into the river.
"We will not make this investigation process private. We will be open about what happened," he said.
Karyoto has been the chief of the Jakarta Metro Police since March 2023, replacing Insp. Gen. Fadil Imran.