Maluku Police Chief Apologizes to Family of Student Who Died After Alleged Abuse by Officer
Jakarta – On Tuesday, February 24, 2026, Maluku Police Chief Inspector General Dadang Hartanto visited NK (15), the older sibling of AT (14), a student who tragically died following an alleged assault by a member of the Maluku Police Mobile Brigade, Bripda MS, in Tual City, Maluku.
Inspector General Dadang expressed his empathy and affirmed the state’s commitment to addressing violations of the law, particularly those committed by law enforcement officials. “Present directly as a form of empathy, moral responsibility. Then it is an affirmation that the state will not ignore violations of the law, especially if they are committed by law enforcement officers,” he stated, as reported by detikNews.
Visit to the Hospital and Apology to the Family
The visit to NK, who is currently receiving treatment for a broken bone at Prof JA Latumeten Level II Hospital in Ambon, took place on Monday, February 23, 2026. Inspector General Dadang engaged in dialogue with NK’s parents, ensuring their child was receiving adequate medical care. He reviewed NK’s medical condition and spoke with the medical team to confirm all treatment needs were being met.
During the visit, Inspector General Dadang issued a direct apology to the family on behalf of himself and the National Police. “I am present not only as an institutional leader, but as a form of moral responsibility. On behalf of myself and the National Police institution, I apologize. We are very sorry for this incident,” he said.
Commitment to Investigation and Prevention
Inspector General Dadang emphasized that the incident will be subject to a thorough evaluation within the Maluku Regional Police to prevent similar occurrences in the future. detikNews reports that Bripda MS has been detained at the Tual Police Detention Center while both criminal and ethical investigations proceed.
According to Viva.co.id, if Bripda MS is found guilty of violating the Code of Ethics of the Polri (Indonesian National Police), he could face dismissal from the force.
Background on Inspector General Dadang Hartanto
Inspector General Dadang Hartanto assumed his position as the Head of the Maluku Regional Police on August 5, 2025. He is a 1994 graduate of the Police Academy and has extensive experience in the field of criminal investigation, as detailed in his Wikipedia profile.