TNI Asserts No Protection for Soldiers Involved in Lampung Police Shooting

March 27, 2025 | 04:15 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta -- The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) asserts that it applies the law equally to all soldiers involved in legal cases. Brigadier General Kristomei Sianturi, Head of the TNI Information Center, stressed that those proven guilty of breaking the law do not deserve institutional protection.

"We will go through the process. There's nothing to fear. If necessary, we will dismiss them," Kristomei stated at the TNI Headquarters in Cilangkap, East Jakarta, on Thursday, March 27, 2025.

Kristomei made this statement in response to the case of three police officers who were murdered, allegedly by two soldiers in Way Kanan, Lampung. "Law enforcement will be carried out firmly against soldiers who violate the law," he added.

The tragic incident took place on March 17, 2025, when a joint team of 17 police officers conducted a raid on a cockfighting gambling site in Register 44, Way Kanan, Lampung. During the operation, gunfire broke out, resulting in the deaths of three officers: Chief of Negara Batin Police Sub-district, AKP (late) Lusiyanto, Second Police Brigadier (late) Petrus, and Police Officer (late) Ghalib.

After a week of investigation, the TNI Military Police Center (Puspom) identified two soldiers as suspects. Corporal Second Class (Kopda) Basar was accused of carrying out the shooting, while First Assistant Lieutenant (Peltu) Lubis was linked to the illegal cockfighting operation.

The two soldiers were officially named suspects on March 23, 2025. However, authorities are still investigating the motive behind the attack. "If proven guilty based on the investigation, they will face severe punishment," Kristomei affirmed.

He also emphasized that the TNI has an abundance of candidates willing to serve in the military.

"Thousands are signing up, so there is no need to protect soldiers involved in misconduct," he stated.

Corporal Basar faces charges under Article 340 of the Criminal Code for premeditated murder, along with Article 338 for murder. Additionally, because the weapon used was an unregistered non-organic firearm, he is also charged under the Emergency Law for illegal firearm possession.

Meanwhile, Peltu Lubis is charged under Article 303 of the Criminal Code for gambling.

As the investigation progressed, the Lampung Regional Police also named a police officer as a suspect in connection with the cockfighting case—Second Police Brigadier Kapri Sucipto, a member of the South Sumatra Mobile Brigade. He is suspected of having close ties to the perpetrators of the police officers’ murder.

Intan Setiawanty contributed to the writing of this article.

Editor's Choice: Three Police Officers Killed during Cockfighting Raid in Lampung, TNI to Sanction Members if Involved

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