The legal process against Bripda Mesias Siahaya, a Brimob member who assaulted student Arianto Tawakal to death in Tual City, Maluku, continues. The case file was handed over to the Tual District Prosecutor's Office on February 24, 2026, with a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison. Additionally, he has been dishonorably discharged from the police through an ethics hearing.
The assault incident occurred on February 19, 2026, near Uningrat Campus in Tual City, Maluku. Bripda Mesias Siahaya, a member of Brimob Kompi 1 Batalyon C Pelopor, allegedly assaulted Arianto Tawakal, a 14-year-old Madrasah Tsanawiyah student, who was riding a motorbike with his brother. The victim died after hospital treatment, while his brother suffered a broken bone.
Polda Maluku reported the case via Police Report LP/B/32/II/2026/Satreskrim/SPKT/Polres Tual/Polda Maluku dated February 19, 2026. The stage I case file was submitted to the Tual District Prosecutor's Office on February 24, 2026, as stated by Polri's Head of Public Relations Division, Inspector General of Police Johnny Edizzon Isir. "Meanwhile, for the investigation process, based on the Police Report: LP/B/32/II/2026/Satreskrim/SPKT/Polres Tual/Polda Maluku dated February 19, 2026, the case file has been completed and submitted in stage I to the Tual Prosecutor's Office on February 24, 2026," he said on February 25, 2026.
Bripda Mesias Siahaya is charged under Article 76C in conjunction with Article 80 Paragraph 3 of Law No. 35 of 2014 on Child Protection in conjunction with Article 466 Paragraph 3 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, facing a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and a fine of up to Rp3 billion. Polri hopes prosecutors will soon declare the file complete for court proceedings.
In addition to criminal proceedings, on February 23, 2026, he underwent a Polri Professional Code of Ethics Commission hearing at Polda Maluku and was given the sanction of dishonorable discharge (PTDH). Maluku Police Chief, Inspector General of Police Dadang Hartanto, emphasized, "Polri does not tolerate any form of code of ethics violations and violent behavior that harms professionalism values and public trust." National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo expressed disappointment over the case that tarnishes Brimob and Polri's name.
YLBHI urged Brimob to be withdrawn from society due to repeated violence cases, but Polri rejected this, emphasizing Brimob's role in humanitarian services and security. Inspector General of Police Johnny Edizzon Isir stated, "The historical record of Brimob Polri's presence and service in the midst of society is very long." This case has drawn public attention regarding Polri reform.
