Jakarta. Indonesian police have dismissed a Brimob (Mobile Brigade) officer on Tuesday following an internal ethics ruling over the death of a 14-year-old student in eastern Indonesia, a case that has sparked nationwide outrage and scrutiny of police use of force.

The victim, identified as AT, died after an encounter with a member of the police in the city of Tual, Maluku, on Feb. 19. Police said AT and his older brother were riding a motorcycle after dawn when they were stopped by officers. During the incident, AT was allegedly struck with a tactical helmet, causing him to fall and suffer severe head injuries. He later died in a hospital, while his brother sustained a broken arm.

After a marathon 13-hour hearing, the Maluku Police Ethics Commission ruled that Officer Masias Victoria Siahaya had committed serious ethical violations and ordered his dismissal with dishonor. The hearing involved testimony from 14 witnesses, including nine Brimob officers and members of the victim’s family, according to Maluku Police spokesperson Rosita Umasugi.

The ruling was delivered at police headquarters in Ambon. While the officer has been formally dismissed, police said he is still considering whether to appeal the ethics decision.

The case has drawn direct attention from Indonesia’s national police chief, Listyo Sigit Prabowo, who ordered the investigation to be handled “to completion” and under strict supervision. Maluku Police chief Dadang Hartanto said special oversight teams from national police headquarters, including internal affairs units, had been deployed, alongside external monitoring by regional human rights bodies.

Criminal law expert Trisno Raharjo of Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta said the investigation could lead to homicide charges if intent is proven.

“An act of violence using a helmet against a child who is riding a motorcycle can be construed as murder, but it must be supported by strong evidence,” he said on Tuesday.

According to Trisno, the core issue in the case is proving intent. Investigators need to examine whether the perpetrator was aware of the risks involved. Trisno also stressed the need for an independent investigative team because the alleged perpetrator is a police officer.

Human rights groups argue the incident reflects broader structural issues within Indonesia’s policing culture. Amnesty International Indonesia Executive Director Usman Hamid said at least 34 civilians were killed in alleged extrajudicial killings by security forces over the past year, most involving members of the National Police. “In recent days, children have again become victims of extrajudicial killings,” Usman said, describing such acts as serious human rights violations.

Beyond physical violence, Amnesty warned of other potential abuses, including attempts to shift blame onto victims. Usman pointed to what he described as a recurring police narrative in which victims are accused of street racing or violence without independent, transparent investigations. He said the pattern mirrors earlier cases, including the death of a teenager in Semarang in November 2024 and the case of Afif Maulana, a student in Padang who died in June 2024 after alleged abuse by officers, but was initially portrayed by police as having died after jumping from a bridge.

The Institute for Criminal Justice Reform (ICJR) said the case highlights recurring problems, including excessive use of force and weak accountability mechanisms, especially within paramilitary-style units such as Brimob.

“This incident underscores deep structural problems, the excessive use of force, weak oversight of the police, and a culture of violence that remains entrenched within the institution,” said Erasmus Napitupulu, executive director of ICJR in a statement received on Monday.

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