Mario Dandy Satriyo, the son of a former tax official who was accused of brutally assaulting a teenager, has sparked another controversy after a video of him putting on cable ties by himself went viral on social media.
The video, which police initially said was edited out of context, showed the 20-year-old casually placing the cable ties around his wrists, seemingly realizing that a camera was on him while he was waiting for his case documents at the Jakarta Metro Police detention center on Friday.
The video then cuts to Mario wearing an orange detainee uniform over his black shirt, as he expresses his regret of his actions to a reporter – while smiling.
The video raised questions about the professionalism and integrity of the police officers who were supposed to secure and supervise Mario, who was facing charges of violence against a minor and sexual abuse.
Jakarta Metro Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto yesterday responded to the public outcry by apologizing and promising to investigate the incident. He said he had ordered Internal Affairs to examine whether there were any violations of the standard operating procedure or the disciplinary code by his subordinates.
Karyoto also thanked the public for their feedback and criticism, saying that the police is always open to constructive criticism.
“I won’t go back and explain how it happened. What’s clear is that this serves as an input for correction for the Jakarta Metro Police,” he said, stressing that the police are not giving Mario any special treatment in detention.
Mario and his friend Shane Lukas were arrested on Feb. 20 after they assaulted a 17-year-old named David Ozora in Jakarta. Mario claimed that he was angry at David for mistreating his 15-year-old girlfriend Agnes, who was also present at the scene.
Mario and Shane brutally assaulted David, sending him into a coma, while Shane also recorded the incident with Mario’s phone. The video was later uploaded online and sparked public outrage.
Mario and Shane were charged with assault of a minor, which carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
Additionally, Mario may face 15 more years in prison after Agnes turned on him and reported him to the police for sexual abuse of a minor.
Mario’s father is Rafael Alun Trisambodo, a former senior official at the Directorate General of Taxation in South Jakarta. Amid huge public interest in his son’s case, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigated Rafael and accused him of receiving about US$90,000 in kickbacks from taxpayers through a consultancy group he founded to help them with their tax disputes. The KPK also seized more than US$2 million worth of cash and luxury goods from his home and bank safety deposit box.
Rafael’s lavish lifestyle and wealth have sparked public outrage and distrust against tax officials, as well as calls to boycott paying taxes. He was arrested and detained by the KPK on April 3, 2023, and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. His case has also prompted the Ministry of Finance to sack him and probe several other civil servants.
