Police Face Scrutiny After Teen Dies in Brimob Patrol Incident in Tual
Key Takeaways
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — Indonesia’s national police chief ordered a full investigation on Monday, Feb 23, 2026 in Jakarta after a 14-year-old student died in Tual, Maluku, following an alleged assault by a Mobile Brigade officer during a late-night patrol, a case that has reignited debate over police conduct and reform.
The officer, identified as Bripda MS of the Mobile Brigade Corps, known locally as Brimob, was named a suspect and detained as internal disciplinary proceedings and a criminal investigation moved forward.
Incident During Patrol
According to a police chronology, the incident began in the early hours of Thursday, Feb 19, 2026, when a Brimob patrol was conducting what authorities described as a “cipta kondisi” operation, a security sweep aimed at maintaining public order, in Tual City and Southeast Maluku Regency.
Around 2 a.m. local time, officers moved from the Mangga Dua complex in Langgur to Fiditan village after receiving reports of a fight near the Tete Pancing area.
About 10 minutes after arriving, two motorcycles reportedly sped toward the location, and Bripda MS allegedly swung a tactical helmet as a signal, striking the right temple of the victim, identified as AT, who fell from the motorcycle.
The teenager was rushed to Karel Sadsuitubun Regional Hospital in Langgur but was pronounced dead at 1 p.m. local time.
Police Chief Expresses Anger
Indonesia’s police chief, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, said he had ordered the case to be thoroughly investigated and promised appropriate punishment if wrongdoing was proven.
“I have ordered that the case be investigated thoroughly and to ensure appropriate punishment for the perpetrator and justice for the victim’s family,” he said in a statement released Monday.
He added that he was “angry” over the incident, saying it had tarnished the honor of Brimob, an elite paramilitary unit tasked with handling high-risk security operations.
Legal and Ethical Proceedings
The Maluku Regional Police scheduled an ethics hearing for Monday afternoon local time, with parts of the proceedings open to the public and other stages closed to examine facts in detail.
Police said they had coordinated with prosecutors to accelerate the criminal process, while family members were allowed to attend in person or via an online link.
Bripda MS faces charges under Indonesia’s Child Protection Law, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison for violence resulting in a child’s death, as well as provisions under the 2023 Criminal Code for assault causing death, punishable by up to seven years.
Political Pressure Mounts
The case drew strong reactions from senior officials and lawmakers, including Coordinating Minister for Law, Human Rights, Immigration and Corrections Yusril Ihza Mahendra, who called the alleged act “truly beyond humanity.”
“In a state governed by law, no one is immune. Law enforcement officers must also be punished if they violate the law,” Yusril said, adding that the officer should face criminal trial in addition to internal disciplinary sanctions.
Members of parliament from Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, urged transparent proceedings and demanded protection for the victim’s family from intimidation.
Lawmakers also pressed for a comprehensive evaluation of standard operating procedures governing the use of force, particularly in interactions with civilians and minors.
A Broader Reform Debate
The incident has fed into a broader national conversation about police reform, recruitment standards, discipline and oversight, issues that have periodically surfaced in Indonesia’s post-authoritarian era.
Yusril said the Police Reform Acceleration Committee was finalizing recommendations to be submitted to the president, covering recruitment patterns, training, discipline and supervision mechanisms.
For residents in Tual, however, the debate is more immediate and personal, centered on a 14-year-old student whose death has shaken confidence in institutions meant to provide protection.