Attention Focuses on Medical Examination

KOMPAS/PRAYOGI DWI SULISTYO

Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy (second right) listens to Pontianak Police Chief Sr. Comr. Anwar Nasir (third right) on Thursday (4/11/2019). The minister was on an official visit to the city in West Kalimantan in connection with the youth violence case of 14-year-old A.

PONTIANAK, KOMPAS — Attention has focused on the results of the medical examination in the assault against the middle school student, identified as A., in Pontianak, West Kalimantan. A.’s parents on Thursday requested another examination, even after the police had conducted two examinations.

The two examinations on April 5 and April 10 found no evidence that the victim’s vital organs had been damaged, as was widely spread on social media. The police also said that the victim’s cousin P., a witness, stated that there the victim had not suffered injuries to her vital organs.

A.’s mother, L., said the family had not received a copy of the examination results from Pontianak’s Promedika Hospital. A’s lawyer, Daniel Edward Tangkau, echoed her comment on Thursday (4/11/2019).

The multiple examinations could provide new evidence for the police. A.’s family said that they had forgiven the A.’s attackers, who have been identified as high school students aged 16-17 years.

However, the family intended to proceed with the legal process as a deterrent. “A. is not the only victim. There have been other victims [in previous cases], and I don’t want to create more victims,” L. said at the hospital.

Pontianak Police chief Sr. Comr. Anwar Nasir said that police would review the family’s request for a third examination. He added that 10 witnesses had been questioned in connection with the case.

Anwar said the assault allegedly committed by three high school students, identified as N., 17, T., 16, and F., 16, was a cause for concern. However, he continued, the actual incident was not as horrific as what had been spread on social media.

The attackers admitted that they hit, pushed and kicked A., as well as pulled A.’s hair. The three attackers said that they took turns beating A., but they denied rumors that 12 individuals were involved in the assault. The individual who was accused and intimidated on social media was not at the scene of the crime, they said.

Family and environment

On his visit to Pontianak on Thursday, Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy met with the victim, the suspects, the principals of all schools in Pontianak, the police and the hospital. He urged families and teachers to provide guidance to youth, especially in their use of social media.

Atma Jaya Catholic University child psychologist Karina Adistiyana said that child rearing should not be the sole responsibility of parents or teachers. All those aged 18 years and above should be an example for the children around them.  (ESA/PDS/DNE/SON)