An Indonesian teenager died after allegedly being hit with a police officer’s tactical helmet, sparking outrage over what human rights teams describe as an “extrajudicial killing”.
Arianto Tawakal, 14, was allegedly assaulted by a police officer in Maluku province. The police officer claimed he was monitoring unlawful avenue racing. The household denied the allegations that the boy was dashing.
The movies, which have been broadly circulated on social media, present the boy lined in blood.
Amnesty Worldwide Indonesia’s govt director, Usman Hamid, described the assault as a “severe violation of human rights”, in accordance with native information stories.
Native stories mentioned he was assaulted by a member of the Indonesian Nationwide Police’s Cellular Brigade (Brimob), second brigadier Masias Siahaya, who struck him with a helmet, resulting in his dying.
The sufferer’s household mentioned {the teenager} was using a bike along with his older brother, Nasri Karim, on the pillion seat when the officer allegedly jumped out from behind a tree and struck the rider within the face along with his tactical helmet, Amnesty reported.
The boy misplaced management of his motorbike and the 2 have been despatched hurtling ahead, with Tawakal’s head dragging alongside the asphalt.
He was taken to the Karel Sadsuitubun Regional Hospital however was pronounced lifeless as a consequence of extreme mind haemorrhaging.
Police mentioned Mr Siahaya swung his helmet within the air a number of occasions to sign the boy to cease. Nonetheless, the helmet allegedly struck {the teenager} on the temple, inflicting him to lose management and crash into one other car forward.
Rijik Fikri Tawakal, the sufferer’s father, denied the declare that his son had been given any warning to cease and mentioned there was a crowd on the scene.
“My son (Arianto) was shocked when this officer raised his helmet and instantly struck his face,” Mr Rijik mentioned.
“What I remorse is that they lifted my little one as if he have been an animal,” he mentioned.
Mr Hamid mentioned the case reveals a sample, highlighting a earlier dying of pupil Gamma Rizkynata Oktavandy in Semarang.
“This amateurish method reminds us of the police violence case that claimed the lifetime of a pupil in Semarang, Gamma. As a substitute of performing firmly and totally uncovering the info, the police accused Gamma of being concerned in a brawl,” Mr Hamid mentioned.
“Their cover-up of the reality solely additional undermines public belief within the police,” he mentioned.
Mr Siahaya was detained by the police quickly after the incident, mentioned public relations head of the Maluku Regional Police senior commissioner Rositah Umasugi.
“He’s being detained to be held accountable for his actions in accordance with the relevant authorized processes,” Ms Rositah mentioned, in accordance with Tempo, including that he’ll bear each legal and moral proceedings.
If discovered responsible, he would face dismissal with out honour, she added.
Police mentioned they’re nonetheless investigating the incident, establishing sequence of occasions, together with the declare of unlawful avenue racing.
Police mentioned there have been witnesses on the spot who who say there have been autos racing and that the officer took preventive motion.
“Nonetheless, whether or not the actions taken have been in accordance with procedures or not is what we’re at present investigating,” mentioned Tual police chief Whansi Des Asmoro.
On 8 August 2025, a police inspector was sentenced to fifteen years in jail and fined 200m rupiah (about $11,900) for fatally taking pictures 17-year-old Gamma Rizkynata Oktavandy, in accordance with native media stories.
The courtroom discovered the officer responsible of utilizing extreme pressure within the incident, which sparked public outrage and renewed scrutiny of police conduct and accountability.
