Abuse Case on Mount Sibayak: Police Name Nine Suspects in Death of a Teenager

Officers from the Tanah Karo District Police (Polres) have named nine people as suspects in a brutal abuse case that resulted in death in the tourist area of Mount Sibayak, Karo Regency. The vigilante action, triggered by allegations of theft, resulted in the death of a teenager from Medan City and injuries to six other hikers.

The Chief of Karo Police, Police Grand Commissioner Adjutant (AKBP) Pebriandi Haloho, explained that the investigation into this tragic case began with a report of the death of a teenager, identified by the initials RCS (17), at Efarina Berastagi Hospital. Based on an intensive investigation conducted by the Criminal Investigation Unit (Satreskrim) of Karo Police and the Berastagi Police Sector, officers successfully identified nine perpetrators of the assault.

In addition to RCS, who lost his life, six other victims—identified by the initials PRP (16), PRP (19), RKF (15), DNP (15), AQ (17), and SAS (17)—suffered serious head injuries. The nine individuals who now hold suspect status are RS (30), ASS (26), MFRST (22), AT (23), WS (28), JSE (19), SAR (36), Z, and OS. Among the perpetrators, some are local residents as well as rogue tourist area ticketing officers.

The dark incident began when the perpetrators received reports that the victims' group had allegedly stolen items belonging to other hikers. The perpetrators then intercepted and tortured the victims at the summit. Furthermore, the perpetrators forcibly picked up RCS from the Tongging Village area, accusing him of a similar past theft, and brought him back to Mount Sibayak to be brutally tortured using belts, hoses, and cigarette burns until he died.

Police have seized several pieces of evidence, including belts, water hoses, and a passenger vehicle used to pick up the victim. The suspects are now charged under multiple articles, including the Child Protection Act and the new Criminal Code (KUHP), facing severe penalties. The Police Chief emphasized that vigilante justice cannot be tolerated and urged the public to hand over all legal matters to the police.