Hopes for transparency in Brig. Yosua’s case

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo

The public hopes that the National Police will maintain transparency in investigating the death of police officer Nopryansyah Yosua Hutabarat, also known as Brigadier J.

The public continues to speculate how Brig. Yosua’s case will conclude despite the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) having named Second Agent (Bharada) E, or Richard Eliezer Pudihang Lumiu as a suspect.

According to Bareskrim general crimes director Brig. Gen. Andi Rian Djajadi, Eliezer was named a suspect based on a report from Yosua’s family.

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Andi stated that Eliezer’s actions were not deemed as self-defense. “The examination has not been completed yet and is still under development,” said Andi, as reported by Kompas (Thursday, 4/8/2022).

Controversy surrounding the case was first raised concerning the time it took to be revealed to the public, which was only on Monday (11/7), three days after the event.

Since the incident that occurred on Friday (8/7), this case has been a constant point of discussion, reflected in various comments on social media and a series of mainstream media reports. Controversy surrounding the case was first raised concerning the time it took to be revealed to the public, which was only on Monday (11/7), three days after the event.

The delay in the case’s revelation to the public also gave way to other controversies, such as the state of the crime scene as well as the evidence that can determine the results of the investigation. The CCTV surveillance cameras at the official residence were not functioning, according to the police. Moreover, apart from gunshot wounds, several slash wounds were also found on Yosua’s body (Kompas, 17/7).

KOMPAS

Inspector General Ferdy Sambo and the house where the shooting incident occurred against Brigadier J, in South Jakarta.

This controversy led President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, through Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD, to call for transparency throughout the investigation. In a statement on Wednesday (3/8), Mahfud further emphasized that he would continue to oversee the President’s directive.

Public pressure and instructions from the head of state should be more than enough for the National Police to solve the case as is, in accordance with scientific crime investigation standards. The professional resolution of this case also aligns with the principles of “predictiveness, responsibility, transparency and justice” or “precision” – the vision of National Police chief Gen. Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

Several murder cases that seized nationwide attention in the past remain undisclosed, such as the murders of human rights activist Munir, journalist Bernas Fuad “Udin” M Syafruddin and labor activist Marsinah.

What business did Pollycarpus have to kill Munir? If he was indeed ‘tasked’ [with killing him], then by whom?”

The case of Munir’s murder was reviewed by the late forensic specialist Abdul Mun’im Idris, in his book Indonesia X-Files: Revealing Facts from Bung Karno’s Death to Munir’s. Mun’im, who pointed out several oddities, wrote “Munir’s death remains a question mark. What business did Pollycarpus have to kill Munir? If he was indeed ‘tasked’ [with killing him], then by whom?”

We do not want prolonged controversies in the case of Brig. Yosua to be added to the long list of unsolved murder cases. Maintaining transparency until the case is closed is a way to honor victims, especially those that lost their lives.

(This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia)