We have some of the alleged actors and perps, but without a doubt, motive remains the biggest question surrounding the murder of police brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat — unfortunately, it seems like we won’t be getting answers anytime soon.
Speaking to the press today, National Police Crime Investigation Unit Chief Commissioner General Agus Andrianto said investigators will keep details related to the murder’s motive close to their chest.
“This is to protect the feelings of those involved, so let this be a matter for the investigators. Soon, all will be revealed in court,” he said.
Agus did not specify whose feelings were being protected. It is, however, worth noting that the case has been a massive scandal for the police force, as it involves cover ups allegedly ordered by a police general.
Previously, Coordinating Legal, Political, and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD said he was aware of the murder motive but warned that its details are not safe for children.
In its first press briefings about the case last month, police said that Nofriansyah was gunned down by his colleague, Private Second Class E, in a shootout at the South Jakarta home of their boss, Internal Affairs Division Chief Inspector General Ferdy Sambo, on July 8. The official line from the police then was that Nofriansyah, who was Ferdy’s bodyguard, had molested his boss’ wife and threatened to kill her, before firing at E first after he was caught.
This week, after intense public pressure amid glaring discrepancies in the case, an investigation by a special task force said that Ferdy himself ordered the murder. In addition, there was allegedly no shootout, as Ferdy staged the crime scene to look like there had been one. To do that, the general allegedly used Nofriansyah’s gun to fire at the walls of the house, but it’s not yet known whether or not he also shot his bodyguard.
Ferdy was charged with premeditated murder, which carries the death penalty under Indonesia’s Criminal Code (KUHP). Two other cops, including a personal aide of Ferdy’s wife, also received the same charge.
E, meanwhile, was charged with murder under KUHP, which carries a maximum punishment of 15 years in prison. His lawyer said E has filed a request with prosecutors to be a justice collaborator in the case as he feels he has been thrown under the bus.
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