The Banten Regional Police’s Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Maruli Hutapea, has firmly denied recent reports alleging that Al Amin Maksum (32), a motorcycle taxi driver from Pandeglang, has been named a suspect.
According to Commissioner Hutapea, the investigation into the fatal accident involving Al Amin, which tragically resulted in the death of his passenger, Khairi Rafi, a student from SDN 1 Pandeglang, is still actively ongoing.
“It should be noted that as of this afternoon, investigators from the Pandeglang Traffic Police are still conducting a thorough investigation. It is confirmed that no suspect has been named, contrary to the viral news reports,” Commissioner Hutapea stated on Monday (February 23rd).
Hutapea further confirmed that a police report has been officially received from the victim’s family, and the case will proceed with a formal presentation of evidence and findings in the near future.
Consequently, investigators from the Pandeglang Police Traffic Unit are diligently continuing to gather witness statements and collect all relevant evidence.
“We are thoroughly exploring all information before determining the subsequent legal steps,” he added.
Concurrently, at the same location, the Head of the Pandeglang Police Traffic Unit, First Inspector Burhanudin Surya Muhammad, affirmed that the legal process concerning the accident involving Al Amin, which led to Khairi Rafi’s death, remains active and ongoing.
However, when questioned about statements from a legal representative suggesting Al Amin had already been designated a suspect, First Inspector Muhammad declined to comment directly, instead reiterating the previous remarks made by the Head of Public Relations.
“As the Head of Public Relations mentioned, it is still under investigation, not yet a suspect. We will conduct a case presentation at the provincial police level,” he briefly stated.
Previously, First Police Inspector Sofyan Sopan, Head of the Law Enforcement Unit of the Pandeglang Police Traffic Unit, had indicated that the naming of Al Amin as a suspect was due to the alleged discovery of elements of driving negligence, which led to his passenger’s death.
Inspector Sopan elaborated on the accident’s dynamics, stating, “Initially, it was the motorcycle’s negligence, and it was beyond the ambulance driver’s ability to prevent, as they were driving in tandem. When the victim fell, the ambulance driver attempted to avoid impact but still struck the victim with the ambulance’s rear wheel.”
Furthermore, Inspector Sopan explained Amin’s responsibilities as a motorcycle taxi driver, emphasizing his duty for passenger safety. This includes the requirement to provide a helmet for passengers and maintain full concentration while driving.
He revealed, “A motorcycle taxi driver is responsible for their passenger’s safety. This particular driver was well aware of the road’s uneven condition, as he wasn’t new to the route, regularly commuting there daily. Moreover, he failed to provide a helmet for his passenger.”
Amin Not Yet Detained
Inspector Sopan clarified the detention status, stating, “We are not carrying out detention at this moment, but it will occur once the case file is complete. The suspect’s file and evidence will be submitted to the prosecutor’s office once it reaches P21 status (complete). We are upholding the principle of presumption of innocence; however, he faces a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.”
Summary
The Banten Regional Police has firmly denied reports that Al Amin Maksum (32), a motorcycle taxi driver, has been named a suspect in a fatal accident in Pandeglang. Senior Commissioner Maruli Hutapea confirmed that the investigation into the incident, which tragically resulted in the death of his passenger, Khairi Rafi, is still actively ongoing. Investigators from the Pandeglang Traffic Police continue to gather witness statements and evidence, affirming that no suspect has been officially named yet.
Despite the current official denial, an earlier statement from Inspector Sofyan Sopan indicated that Al Amin was considered a suspect due to alleged driving negligence. This negligence reportedly included failure to provide a helmet for the passenger and awareness of uneven road conditions. While not yet detained, Al Amin faces potential charges with a sentence of up to five years once the case file is complete and submitted to the prosecutor’s office.