September 11, 2025 | 11:43 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) suspects that the death of Indonesian online motorcycle taxi driver Affan Kurniawan during the August 28, 2025, protest in Jakarta may constitute a criminal act of murder.
Affan was killed after being struck and crushed by a tactical vehicle (rantis) belonging to the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) of the Metro Jaya Police.
ICJR researcher Iqbal Muharam Nurfahmi stressed that Affan’s death should not be seen merely as an ethical violation by the rantis driver.
“This incident is not just about an ethical breach. We suspect that a criminal act was involved,” Iqbal said at a press conference at the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence (KontraS) office in East Jakarta on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
ICJR believes the case falls under Article 338 of the Criminal Code, which stipulates that anyone who intentionally takes another person’s life can be punished with up to 15 years in prison. According to Iqbal, evidence from videos and field investigations suggests the police made no attempt to prevent Affan from being run over.
“They should have realized their actions could harm others—but they still did it,” Iqbal said.
Video footage shows the Brimob rantis stopped for several seconds after hitting Affan, not because it was under attack. After pausing for about seven seconds, the vehicle moved forward again, continuing to crush the victim.
“That shows intent, or at least the possibility of intent,” Iqbal argued.
A joint investigation with KontraS reinforced suspicions of intent by the officers involved. According to their findings, the rantis stopped in Pejompongan at around 07:27 PM, then reversed three meters before suddenly accelerating at high speed.
KontraS also noted that Brimob had already fired tear gas before the rantis advanced, questioning why such a lethal measure was used when tear gas had dispersed the crowd.
“There was intent and full awareness in the use of that vehicle. This was clearly excessive and extraordinary action,” said KontraS Coordinator Dimas Bagus Arya.
The officers in the vehicle were Police Commissioner Kosmas Kaju Gae and Chief Brigadier Rohmat. Both faced an ethical hearing on September 3-4, 2025. Kosmas received dishonorable dismissal, while Rohmat was demoted for seven years.
However, both officers have appealed the National Police Disciplinary Court’s ruling.
“Regarding the disciplinary court’s decision last week, both have filed an appeal,” confirmed Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, Head of the National Police’s Public Relations Bureau, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.
Hammam Izzuddin contributed to the writing of this article.
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