A student walks on Nov 26, 2024, past flower boards conveying condolences for GRO, a 17-year-old student who died after reportedly being shot by a police officer, at SMKN 4 Semarang state vocational high school in Central Java. The student was reportedly shot when the police officer attempted to disperse an alleged brawl in West Semarang, but the claim has been questioned by members of the public. - Photo: Antara
JAKARTA: A local office of the Indonesian Ombudsman pushed authorities to be transparent in the investigation of the shooting of a 17-year-old student allegedly by a police officer in Semarang, Central Java.
The Semarang city administration and Semarang Police should provide timely and accurate information about the investigation to prevent speculation that could alarm residents, said Siti Farida, chair of the Central Java Ombudsman.
“We urge that the investigation be conducted transparently, accountably and professionally, while providing legal and psychological support for the victims and their families,” she said on Wednesday (Nov 27), as quoted by kompas.com.
She added that the Ombudsman had commitments to coordinate relevant parties to ensure measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Central Java Ombudsman also launched a public channel to receive complaints on inadequate public service surrounding the incidents.
“Collaboration between the government, law enforcement and the community is essential to keeping Semarang safe and to serving the public well,” Siti said.
An officer with the Semarang Police reportedly shot and killed the 17-year-old student, identified by his initials GRO, while dispersing an alleged teenage gang brawl in front of a housing complex in the western part of the city on Sunday early morning.
Semarang Police chief Sr. Comr. Irwan Anwar claimed that the officer had noticed the brawl as he was passing by the area on his way home, but got attacked by the boys, forcing him to fire his gun.
GRO succumbed to his injuries at a nearby hospital. In addition to GRO, two other boys were shot in the incident: a 16-year-old identified as S and a 17-year-old identified as A.
But information received by rights group Amnesty International Indonesia said that there was no brawl near the housing complex that night.
Instead, the police officer allegedly opened fire after his motorbike collided with the one the students were riding.
Irwan did not reveal the officer’s name, only claiming that he was being questioned by the Semarang Police’s internal affairs division.
On Tuesday, the police held a reconstruction at the crime scene in the housing complex.
Student A was present during the reconstruction, who confirmed to reporters that a brawl took place.
However, he asserted that he did not hear any gunfire despite having a bullet wound on his chest.
Student A claimed that he was with friends at a boarding house before the brawl.
But before he could finish his statement, officers escorted him to a white vehicle. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
