The Cimahi Police have successfully apprehended two teenage suspects implicated in the murder of a junior high school student, whose body was discovered in the former Kampung Gajah area of Parongpong, West Bandung Regency. Both individuals face charges under Article 80 paragraph (3) of the Child Protection Law, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The suspects have been identified by their initials YA (16) and AP (17), while the victim was identified as ZAAQ (14).
According to Cimahi Police Chief AKBP Niko, the two suspects are also charged under Article 459 of Law Number 1 Year 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP), specifically related to premeditated murder. This additional charge significantly escalates the potential penalties.
During a press conference on Sunday, February 15, Chief Niko stated, “The potential sentences for this crime include the death penalty, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 20 years.” This highlights the severe nature of the allegations against the teenagers.
Chief Niko elaborated on the grim discovery, noting that the victim’s body was found on Friday, February 13. Two witnesses, identified as GR and SA, stumbled upon the scene while conducting a TikTok live stream at the abandoned tourist site. Initially, the strong odor led the witnesses to believe it was an animal carcass, but upon closer inspection, they realized it was the body of a young male.
Remarkably, police moved with exceptional speed, apprehending the two suspects in Banyuresmi District, Garut, in less than 24 hours after the discovery. Authorities confirmed that the suspects and the victim were previously acquainted, adding another layer to the tragedy.
During the arrest, officers seized crucial evidence, including the victim’s jacket, the victim’s mobile phone, a dagger used in the stabbing, and a glass bottle believed to have been used to strike the victim’s head. These items are pivotal to the ongoing investigation.
Delving into the specifics of the crime, Chief Niko detailed the roles of the perpetrators: YA acted as the primary assailant, while AP maintained watch outside the location, monitoring the situation and guarding their vehicle. It was also revealed that the sharp weapon used in the attack had been prepared by the suspects before they even departed from Garut.
The sequence of events began when the suspects invited the victim to meet and talk in the secluded former Kampung Gajah area. A verbal altercation quickly escalated, leading to the suspects striking the victim’s head with a bottle found at the scene, causing him to fall. The victim was then brutally stabbed eight times in the abdomen.
Despite the severity of the attack, Chief Niko relayed the suspects’ statement: “According to the suspects’ testimony, the victim was left still alive.” This claim is being thoroughly investigated by authorities.
Following the horrific incident, the suspects reportedly confiscated the victim’s mobile phone and began sending messages to various contacts, attempting to create the illusion that the victim was still alive. Further deceptive messages were sent, falsely claiming the victim had been kidnapped, in a calculated effort to mislead the victim’s family and friends and buy themselves time.
The investigation has uncovered the primary motive for the murder: profound resentment harbored by the suspects after the victim expressed a desire to end their friendship. This deep-seated grudge reportedly fueled a premeditated plan, with the suspects traveling from Garut to Bandung specifically with the intent to harm the victim.