INDONESIA: A grim incident unfolded in Ciledug, Tangerang, when an immigration officer fell to his death from the 19th floor of an apartment building. Adding to the mystery is the discovery of a South Korean national in the apartment, the last person seen with the deceased officer.
The victim, identified as Tri Fattah Firdaus, a 23-year-old immigration officer from Kalideres, West Jakarta, was found lifeless after falling from the 19th floor of the apartment in the early hours of Friday (27 October). The first signs of the tragedy were heard by security guards, who reported hearing the sound of breaking glass. They then heard someone screaming from the 19th floor.
Shortly afterwards, a loud sound similar to the impact of a solid object hitting the ground was heard, according to Metro Jaya Police director of operations, Commissioner of Police Hengki Haryadi, during a press briefing on the incident.
Police immediately launched an investigation, with initial suspicions pointing to foul play. Officers have also taken into custody a South Korean national who was reportedly in the flat when the immigration officer fell. This individual is said to have locked himself in the apartment and resisted arrest when security personnel attempted to communicate with him.
“Security and management attempted to open the door, but the South Korean national inside used both a sharp weapon and hot water to threaten them. This is clearly criminal activity,” Hengki said.
The tense standoff between the authorities and the South Korean national lasted about five hours due to his initial resistance. Negotiations eventually led to his arrest.
Following a thorough examination of the crime scene, authorities found bloodstains and other evidence consistent with criminal activity. Investigations will continue to examine these findings, including cross-matching the bloodstains to the South Korean national.
Hengki Haryadi has confirmed that the South Korean national is currently under investigation and is initially suspected of violent threats and misconduct.
“We have established the initial criminal offence of threats and harassment while we continue to investigate the events that led to the officer’s fall from the 19th floor,” he said.
Police are also investigating the circumstances of the immigration officer’s death, looking into the possibility of murder, suicide or accident. It has also emerged that the South Korean national had previous interactions with immigration authorities, including deportation and a three-year detention.
The incident, which took place in a room shared by the immigration officer and the South Korean national, was captured on the building’s security cameras. The police are relying on these recordings as part of their ongoing investigation.
Hengki emphasised the use of scientific crime investigation methods to uncover the truth behind this tragedy, and will carry out a series of activities to establish cause and effect.
“In this case, there were only two people in the apartment, so we are relying purely on scientific crime investigation. We are implementing an evidence-based approach and a circumstantial chain of activities that will help us understand cause and effect,” he noted.
To support the investigation, law enforcement agencies have assembled a multidisciplinary team from various fields, including forensic laboratories, forensic medicine and the Indonesian Automatic Fingerprint Identification System (Inafis), all working together at the crime scene.
