Indonesian police have arrested a police officer after the death of a 14-year-old boy in Maluku province, in what Amnesty International has termed a possible case of extrajudicial killing.
Arianto Tawakal died on Feb. 19 after a scuffle with a National Police Mobile Brigade officer in the city of Tual.
According to reports from local media and the family of the victim, the police officer allegedly hit Arianto on the head with his helmet while he was observing possible illegal street racing, causing the boy to lose control of his motorcycle and crash.
The case has been termed a “serious violation of human rights” by Amnesty International Indonesia. Usman Hamid, the group’s executive director, told Tempo news agency that the incident is part of a larger problem of police violence in Indonesia.
The police officer, who was first reported by local media as MS, has been identified as Masias Siahaya.
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He was reportedly monitoring reports of illegal street racing when the incident took place on a downhill road near a local hospital.
Arianto was riding a motorcycle with his older brother, Nasri Karim, who told reporters that the police officer suddenly appeared from behind a tree and hit Arianto on the temple with his helmet.
The impact of the helmet allegedly caused Arianto to lose control of the motorcycle, which crashed into the road and a passing vehicle. Nasri Karim broke his arm in the accident.
Arianto was rushed to Karel Sadsuitubun Regional Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from massive bleeding in the brain. Nasri Karim is still being treated for his injuries.
The family of Arianto has denied reports that the boy was involved in illegal street racing.
Nasri Karim told reporters that the acceleration of the motorcycle was slowed down by the downhill road, not by his brother’s actions.
However, the authorities have a different story. According to police reports, Masias had been swinging his helmet several times to signal oncoming vehicles.
However, one of these swings accidentally hit Arianto, causing the accident.
Rijik Fikri Tawakal, Arianto’s father, disputed the police report. He said that his son was ambushed unexpectedly and that there were no onlookers present during the accident, contrary to the police report that suggested otherwise. “My son was shocked when this officer raised his helmet and immediately struck his face,” he told Kompas news agency.
Rijik was also unhappy with how the police officers treated Arianto’s body, as seen in a video where Arianto was shown lying unconscious on a blood-soaked road. “What I regret is that they lifted my child like he was an animal,” he said.
Amnesty International has also disputed the police’s first claim that Arianto was involved in illegal racing. Usman Hamid cited the 2025 Semarang, Central Java, murder of 17-year-old student Gamma Rizkynata Oktavandy.
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Gamma was killed after being shot by a police inspector, who was later sentenced to 15 years in prison and fined 200 million rupiah (about US$11,900). Hamid explained that the Maluku incident illustrates “an amateurish approach to law enforcement, where mere accusations are given more weight than proper investigation.”
Since Feb. 19, Masias has been detained at the Tual Police detention facility. Senior Commissioner Rositah Umasugi, the head of public relations for the Maluku Regional Police, confirmed that he is being detained pending criminal and ethical charges.
“He is being detained to be held accountable for his actions in accordance with the applicable legal processes,” she told Tempo. Umasugi further explained that if Masias is proven guilty, he may be dismissed without honor.
Tual Police Chief Whansi Des Asmoro said that the police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the case, including the possibility of illegal street racing at the time of the incident.
“We are still investigating whether there was indeed illegal street racing at the time, or whether the victim was simply passing by, as claimed by the family,” he said. “There are witnesses who claim that there were cars racing and that the officer had taken preventive measures.
However, whether the measures taken were in line with procedure or not is what we are currently investigating.”
The investigation is likely to include witness statements, forensic analysis of the area where the accident occurred, as well as video evidence.
The police have not yet confirmed how many other people were present at the scene of the accident.
Human rights groups have demanded that the investigation be transparent and that the law be followed. Amnesty International has asked that the police not jump to conclusions or fall back into the habit of labeling victims as participants in illegal activities.
