Three police officers from the Denpasar City Police have been placed in special detention (dipatsus) following the death of a male detainee who was allegedly beaten by fellow inmates inside a detention cell.
The head of public relations for Bali Police, Kombes Jansen Avitus Panjaitan Aryasandi, said the officers were found to be unprofessional and negligent while on duty.
“When the beating occurred, the three officers failed to monitor inmate activity in the detention cell at Denpasar Police headquarters,” Aryasandi said, as quoted by ANTARA on Monday, 9 June.
“They’ve been sanctioned with 30 days in special placement for violating the code of ethics. This is a clear example of unprofessional conduct.”
The three officers sanctioned are Bripka ADP from the detention and evidence unit (Satuan Tahti), along with Bripda IPDAP and Bripda IDPS from the Sabhara (public order) unit.
Suspect in sexual abuse case dies less than a day after arrest
The case stems from the death of a 35-year-old male detainee, identified by the initials AI, who died inside the Denpasar Police detention facility on Wednesday night, 4 June, at approximately 21:30 WITA.
AI had been arrested earlier that day for alleged sexual abuse. According to police, he was handed over to the detention unit by investigators from the women and children protection unit (Unit PPA) at Denpasar Police. Less than 24 hours later, he was found dead, with signs pointing to a fatal group assault.
“Preliminary findings indicate that he was beaten by other detainees,” Aryasandi said.
Six fellow inmates named suspects
Police have since named six other detainees as suspects in the alleged assault that led to AI’s death. Most of the suspects are detainees being held on drug-related charges.
The six have been charged under Article 170 of the Criminal Code, which covers group assault or collective violence.
Aryasandi said the investigation is ongoing, with police still working to uncover the motive behind the attack.
