TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Police Commission (Kompolnas) will seek clarification from the Jakarta Metropolitan Police regarding the reported vandalism of the car belonging to journalist and host of Bocor Alus Politik from Tempo, Hussein Abri Dongoran. Hussein reported the vandalism of his vehicle to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. The vandalism incident occurred on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Until now, the progress of the handling remains unclear. The Daily Chairperson of Kompolnas, Arief Wicaksono Sudiotomo, stated that they have the right to inquire about the progress of the report. "They also have an obligation to provide clarification about what actually happened," said Arief when contacted by Tempo on Sunday, March 23, 2025.

The police are deemed to not take cases of violence or terror against journalists seriously. In response to this, Kompolnas emphasized that they will immediately seek an official explanation from the police. He explained that Kompolnas' right to request clarification is regulated in the Regulation of the Coordinating Ministry for Political, Legal, and Security Affairs Number 2 of 2023 concerning Public Suggestions and Complaints.

"We consider the complaint from Tempo journalist as part of the public complaints that must be followed up. So, I will take immediate steps," he said. Kompolnas, Arief added, will also coordinate with the Chief of the Criminal Investigation Department to ensure that the Indonesian National Police Chief's order regarding the terror of pig heads and severed rat carcasses directed at Tempo is genuinely followed up.

Kompolnas emphasizes that press freedom is a fundamental pillar of democracy that must be protected. Therefore, every threat or intimidation against journalists must be dealt with seriously and transparently by law enforcement agencies.

Previously, two individuals riding a motorcycle damaged Hussein's car windows, which was parked near the Kukusan Police Post on K.H. Usman Street, Beji, Depok, West Java, in early September last year.

The dashboard camera recording in Hussein's car showed that the incident occurred at 12.05 on September 3, 2024. Two perpetrators riding a motorcycle were seen passing by after the sound of the car window being hit. The motorcycle used by the perpetrators did not have a rear license plate. They fled towards Kalibata Srengseng Sawah heading to Jakarta.

Hussein only realized that his car window was damaged after finishing his driver's license renewal at the mobile SIM service. His car was parked in front of a food stall on K.H. Usman Street, about ten meters from the Kukusan Police Post. In the vicinity, he and the parking attendant found ceramic spark plug fragments suspected to have been used by the perpetrators to damage the right passenger side window.

Hussein and his legal team reported this vandalism case to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police because it was the second time the car vandalism had occurred. "We see a series of attacks against Mr. Hussein, who is a journalist for Tempo and the host of Bocor Alus at Tempo," said Hussein's lawyer, Mustafa, in front of the South Jakarta Metro Police Office, on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

Previously, the terror against Hussein also occurred on Tuesday night, August 5, 2024. Hussein's car window was also smashed by two individuals riding a motorcycle not far from the official residence of the Indonesian National Police Chief, General Listyo Sigit Prabowo. Hussein and Tempo representatives have reported the incident to the South Jakarta Police Resort, but the case has remained unresolved until now.

At the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Hussein and his legal team submitted evidence in the form of dashcam recordings from the car. They came to report at around 10:00 AM, and finished at 12:30 PM.

"The dashcam recorded the presence of two individuals riding a motorcycle who were riding from the rear of the vehicle when the incident occurred," said Mustafa. "We reported this in relation to the criminal act of property damage, Article 406 Paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code."

Tempo has attempted to contact the Public Relations Division Head of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Grand Commissioner Ade Ary Syam Indradi, and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police Chief, Inspector General Karyoto. However, until now, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police has not provided an official statement regarding the progress of the investigation of the report.

Ervana Trikarinaputri contributed to the writing of this article.

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