T

he Jakarta Police have arrested four suspects over a recent case of alleged battery against two Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel, but investigation into a mob attack against the Ciracas Police in East Jakarta has stalled.

Two of the suspects, parking attendants identified only as AP, 32, and HP, 28, were arrested on Wednesday while the other two suspects, husband and wife IH and SR, were arrested on Thursday. One suspect is still at large, Jakarta Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Argo Yuwono said.

“The suspects are being charged with assault,” he told reporters at the Jakarta Police headquarters on Thursday, adding that the suspects allegedly violated articles 170 and 351 of the Criminal Code.

They face up to five years and six months in prison.

The suspects were allegedly involved in an attack against Navy Captain Komaruddin and First Private Rivo Nanda, a member of the Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres), in Ciracas on Monday.

The assault allegedly occurred following a quarrel between HP and Komaruddin in the parking lot of the Arudina shopping complex in Ciracas. HP accidently hit Komaruddin’s head with the handlebar of a motorcycle that he was trying to move. A quarrel between the two ensued, prompting HP and his four friends to attack him and later Rivo, who attempted to break up the fight.

The incident is believed to have triggered a mob attack involving 100 unidentified men against the Ciracas Police the next day. It was alleged that TNI personnel, dissatisfied with how the police handled the case of alleged assault against their fellow military men, retaliated by ransacking and burning down part of the police office.

In the attack, the mob also injured several police officers on duty, including Ciracas Police chief Comr. Agus Widartono. He is currently being treated at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital.

“We will wait for him to recover before questioning him for the case,” Argo said, refusing to elaborate on the investigation.

Argo instead talked about the police station, which had been temporarily shut down.

“The police station is still under restoration. Hopefully the restoration can finish as soon as possible so the police can serve the people again,” Argo said.

Spokesman of the Jakarta Military Command (Kodam Jaya) Col. Kristomei Sianturi said his office was intensively coordinating with the Jakarta Police to determine whether the assault was related to the mob attack.

“If there are members of Kodam Jaya involved in the attack, we will pursue the legal process against them,” he said as reported by tribunnews.com on Wednesday.

Separately, Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Wiranto called for the TNI and the police to remain united as the two institutions were important for national stability.

“If there are rogue security personnel [involved in the incident], take legal action, no need to make a fuss about it,” he told reporters on Thursday.

The case has raised concerns over possible new conflicts between the TNI and the police. The chiefs of the two institutions said they vowed to maintain unity for the country’s security ahead of the 2019 general election. (ars/ggq)