Indonesia’s National Police (Polri) has formally declared the actions of Mobile Brigade (Brimob) officer Bripda Masias Victoria Siahaya as excessive force during a recent dispersal operation, which tragically led to the death of 14-year-old Arianto Tawakal. Inspector General of Police Johnny Eddizon Isir, Head of the Polri Public Relations Division, emphasized that police brutality and violence are strictly prohibited during crowd management, especially when circumstances do not warrant such drastic measures.
During a press conference held at the Polri Headquarters on Wednesday, February 25, Isir elaborated on the incident. He explained that Bripda Masias’s use of force was deemed disproportionate and violent, particularly when the two young victims were passing by on a motorcycle. This unjustified violence by the Brimob officer culminated in the fatality of one civilian and injuries to another, a “fatal incident” that the institution is now thoroughly investigating and processing.
Isir further stressed that the deployment of force during any mass dispersal must be carefully calibrated and never exceed necessary levels, particularly once a crowd has begun to disperse. He issued a clear directive against forcibly halting vehicles attempting to flee at high speeds, warning of the potentially fatal consequences. “If he keeps going, then so be it,” Isir stated. “But not by obstructing or blocking, let alone hitting them with a helmet, because there is the potential for fatal consequences. Riders can fall, they can be injured, as experienced by young Arianto Tawakal. This is what we are currently processing.” This highlights the Polri’s strict guidelines against actions like intentionally impeding or striking individuals with a helmet.
In light of the grave accusations, Bripda Masias Victoria Siahaya faced a rigorous ethics committee hearing on Monday, February 23. The tribunal concluded with a verdict of Dishonorable Discharge (Pemberhentian Tidak Dengan Hormat – PTDH) from the police force, signaling a zero-tolerance approach to such misconduct. The officer is reportedly considering an appeal against this severe disciplinary action, which could extend the administrative process.
Parallel to the internal disciplinary measures, criminal proceedings against Bripda Masias have been initiated. The complete case file has been formally submitted to the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Tual District Court for comprehensive review. For his alleged role in the incident, Bripda Masias has been charged under Article 76C Juncto Article 80 Paragraph 3 of Indonesian Law Number 35 of 2014, an amendment to Law Number 23 of 2002 concerning Child Protection, and/or Article 466 Paragraph 3 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code. These serious charges carry a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a substantial fine of up to IDR 3 billion, reflecting the severe legal ramifications for excessive force by law enforcement, especially when it involves minors and leads to tragic outcomes.
Summary
Bripda Masias Victoria Siahaya, a member