Legal Expert Calls Police Statement on Citizen Arrest of Muggers 'Panic'

A legal expert has labeled a statement from the West Java Police's Public Relations Head, Hendra Rochmawan, which permitted citizens to apprehend muggers as long as they do not cause death, as a sign of panic. Ramsen Marpaung, Vice Chairman of the Bandung branch of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi), stated that law enforcement officials should make legally measured pronouncements.

Marpaung explained that such a statement, which he believes is a misstep for law enforcement, could be easily misinterpreted by the public. He questioned how citizens could be expected to gauge the level of force to use, with the only restriction being not to kill.

“

If police, law enforcement officials (APH) say that (allowing citizens to catch muggers as long as they don't die), that is actually the panic of the APH. Because it can be biasedly interpreted by the public. How can we have a measure to assault people as we please but not let them die? That is very difficult.

"If police, law enforcement officials (APH) say that (allowing citizens to catch muggers as long as they don't die), that is actually the panic of the APH," Marpaung said. "Because it can be biasedly interpreted by the public. How can we have a measure to assault people as we please but not let them die? That is very difficult."

He further elaborated on the potential dangers, noting that while a suspect might withstand several blows, a single strike to a vital area could prove fatal. "So how can the public be given bait that I think is wrong, allowed to assault, allowed to hit as long as they don't die? That grade is: light, severe, very severe, near death. Well, this is dangerous. Near death is not death. Well, this is dangerous. In my opinion, that is wrong," he concluded.

“

So how can the public be given bait that I think is wrong, allowed to assault, allowed to hit as long as they don't die? That grade is: light, severe, very severe, near death. Well, this is dangerous. Near death is not death. Well, this is dangerous. In my opinion, that is wrong.