Disclosing Motive would Bolster Perceptions of Police Objectivity

Since Ferdy Sambo was named a suspect in the murder of Nofriansyah on Tuesday (9/8), the police have yet to reveal his motive.

KOMPAS/IRMA TAMBUNAN

Samuel Hutabarat holds a photo of his son, Nofriansyah Yosua or Brigadier J, at Sungai Bahar, Muaro Jambi Regency, Saturday (23/7/2022).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The National Police must disclose former internal affairs chief Insp. Gen. Ferdy Sambo’s motive in allegedly murdering Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat, also known as Brig. J, as soon as possible. Not only has this case gained widespread attention, but the public has also witnessed how a high-ranking police officer was able to set up the crime.

To understand the case better, the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) asked the police if it could examine second agent E, or Richard Eliexer Pudihang Lumiu, again. This was because the initial statement the LPSK received from Eliezer was outdated and still contained facts allegedly fabricated by Ferdy.

Calls to disclose Ferdy’s suspected motive for murdering Nofriansyah have come from criminal law experts and criminologists. A criminal law lecturer at Parahyangan Catholic University, Agustinus Pohan, said on Wednesday (10/8/2022) that although the motive was not part of the crime itself, disclosing it would show the public that the case had been investigated objectively.

“[In this case] the public witnessed how a police officer could set up the crime in such a way. What’s more is that this was done by a high-ranking officer who was supposed to safeguard ethics among law enforcement. Now there are suspicions that fabrications were present in previous major cases,” said Agustinus when contacted from Jakarta.

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This case, he continued, could further erode the public’s trust in the police. Since Ferdy was named a suspect in the murder of Nofriansyah on Tuesday (9/8), the police have yet to reveal his motive. Only Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD received information that the motive behind the murder was too sensitive and was only suitable for adults.

When asked again about Ferdy’s motive for killing Nofriansyah, police spokesman Insp. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said only that the special police team was still investigating the case.

“The special team is still examining the [statements] of the witnesses,” he said.

Aside from Ferdy, the police also named Eliezer, Brig. Ricky Rizal and Kuat as suspects in the case. Ferdy allegedly ordered Eliezer to shoot Nofriansyah. Both Ricky and Kuat were allegedly complicit in the shooting.

Thus far, the police’s special team has examined 36 officers in relation to the case. These officers ranged in rank from brigadier general to adjunct commissioner.

KOMPAS

After the determination of Inspector General Ferdy Sambo as a suspect in the murder case of his aide, Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat or Brigadier J, public support for the National Police continued to flow by giving bouquets of flowers.

Using pressure

A criminologist from the University of Indonesia, Adrianus Meliala, suggested that the police investigate the motive behind the murder starting from Ferdy and his wife, Putri Candrawathi. According to Adrianus, now that Ferdy was named a suspect, he would begin to feel increasing pressure from the police to speak up.

Likewise, Putri would also confess what really happened in a matter of time, Adrianus claimed, and reveal the motive behind the murder of Nofriansyah. This confession would also determine Putri’s role in the incident, the criminologist suspected.

“From there, her role will be known either as a witness and victim or complicit suspect,” he said.

The LPSK also requires the latest information from Eliezer. Since volunteering as a justice collaborator, Eliezer has altered certain information related to Nofriansyah’s death in his account to police investigators.

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> Hopes for transparency in Brig. Yosua’s case

According to LPSK deputy chairman Edwin Partogi Pasaribu, he received the new information when visiting the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) on Tuesday (9/8). To fulfill Eliezer’s request as a justice collaborator, the LPSK must hear directly from Eliezer about the main perpetrators of the murder, who else was involved, their roles, as well as the motive behind the crime. For this reason, the police must give the LPSK an opportunity to speak with Eliezer.

“The National Police chief said yesterday that one of the reasons Bharada E [Eliezer] wanted to expose this case was because wanted to become a JC [justice collaborator]. I think this should be facilitated by the police,” said Edwin.

Azmi Syahputra, a criminal law lecturer at Trisakti University in Jakarta, was of the opinion that it had been challenging to disclose the real perpetrators of the case early on because of Ferdy’s involvement as a high-ranking official. Ferdy was in a position where he could influence other police officers to be involved in fabricating the case from the beginning. Some are currently being investigated by the police’s special team for alleged ethics violations.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.