Indonesian Police Dismiss Officer Following Death of Ride-Hailing Driver
primary Keyword: Kompol Cosmas dismissal
Secondary Keywords: Affan Kurniawan, Polri, Brimob, PTDH, Indonesian National Police, Rantis incident, online motorcycle taxi driver (Ojol), police misconduct
The Indonesian National Police (Polri) has dismissed Kompol Cosmas Pelindas, the former commander of the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) unit in Lampung, following an investigation into the death of Affan Kurniawan, a ride-hailing driver. The dismissal, a severe disciplinary measure known as Pemecatan tidak Dengan Hormat (PTDH), or dishonorable discharge, stems from an incident where a police armored vehicle (Rantis) allegedly struck and killed Kurniawan.
The incident, which occurred earlier in September 2025, sparked public outrage and protests, drawing attention from both domestic and international media, including coverage in The wall Street Journal which linked the demonstrations to broader economic concerns in Indonesia. Initial reports indicated that the Rantis vehicle was involved in a collision with Kurniawan while he was working as an online motorcycle taxi driver (Ojol).Following the incident, Polri initiated a thorough investigation. The investigation concluded that Kompol Cosmas was culpable in the events leading to Kurniawan’s death, leading to the PTDH sanction. According to reports from Kompas.com, the dismissal was a direct consequence of his actions related to the incident.Kompol Cosmas has publicly expressed regret over the death of Affan Kurniawan, as reported by Detik news. Though, this expression of sorrow did not mitigate the severity of the disciplinary action taken by Polri. The PTDH sanction signifies a complete severance of ties between Cosmas and the police force, stripping him of his rank, benefits, and future eligibility for state pensions.
The case highlights growing concerns regarding police conduct and accountability in Indonesia. The swift action taken by polri in dismissing Kompol Cosmas is seen by some as a presentation of the institution’s commitment to addressing misconduct and upholding public trust. However, the incident continues to fuel debate about the safety of ride-hailing drivers and the need for improved regulations regarding the operation of police vehicles in public spaces.