Jakarta. A low-ranking police officer who drove an armored vehicle that killed a motorcycle taxi driver during protests in Jakarta has escaped dismissal. The deadly incident has already ignited widespread unrest across the country for a week.

Chief Brigadier Rohmat was found guilty in an internal ethics hearing on Thursday but received only a seven-year demotion instead of dishonorable discharge. The decision followed the August 28 incident in which an armored tactical vehicle ran over 28-year-old motorbike taxi driver Affan Kurniawan near Pejompongan, Central Jakarta.

The vehicle, carrying seven officers, had been deployed to disperse protesters when it struck and crushed Affan, who happened to be passing by. His death sparked outrage and widespread demonstrations, some of which escalated into violent clashes.

Reduced Sanctions
Although Rohmat had faced the maximum penalty of dismissal, the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) explained the mitigating factors. Commissioner Ida Oetari Poernamasari said Rohmat was acting under orders from his team commander, Commissioner Kosmas Kaju Gae, who was dismissed in a separate hearing the previous day.

Ida noted that the armored vehicle had multiple blind spots, preventing Rohmat from fully monitoring the surroundings. A broken left-side mirror and the chaotic situation outside, where thousands of protesters clashed with police, further contributed to the tragedy.

“He could not see the real conditions on the ground because of the blind spots, and the broken mirror was one factor that caused the victim to be crushed,” Ida said.

The psychological strain on officers inside the vehicle, who were reportedly panicked during the riots, was also cited in the hearing. Five other officers who were in the vehicle are still awaiting their disciplinary hearings.

Escalating Unrest
Affan’s death intensified nationwide protests against police brutality and government policies. The unrest began on August 25 with demonstrations outside parliament in Jakarta, where protesters opposed lawmakers’ new monthly housing allowance of Rp 50 million ($3,000). A follow-up labor rally three days later also turned violent.

After Affan’s death, protests spread beyond Jakarta. In Makassar, South Sulawesi, protesters set fire to the provincial parliament building, resulting in three deaths. Police stations across the country were vandalized, and dozens of patrol cars were torched.

National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo and President Prabowo Subianto both issued public apologies, visiting Affan’s family to personally express condolences and promises of a thorough investigation.