An online media journalist in North Maluku, Sukandi Ali, was assaulted by three members of the Indonesian Navy (TNI AL) at the Panamboang Navy post, South Bacan sub-district, South Halmahera, on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
The incident began when the victim was unexpectedly picked up by two perpetrators at his house. The perpetrators were accompanied by the Village Guidance Officer of Babang village.
Sukandi was then taken by car to the TNI AL Post, where he was interrogated regarding an article he had written. The article was titled "Tens of Thousands of Kiloliters of Fuel Allegedly Belonging to North Sumatra Police Maritime Unit Seized by Indonesian Navy in South Halmahera, Ternate Port Authority Head Allegedly Involved." The report was published in the media Sidikkasus.co.id on March 26, 2024.
During the interrogation, Sukandi was beaten with hands, hit with the perpetrators' shoes, and whipped with a hose. The abuse resulted in cuts and wounds all over his body, head, hands, and shoulders. Some of his teeth were even broken as a result of the torture.
The victim was also held at gunpoint, with a gun aimed at him, after being intimidated by a warning shot fired upwards by one of the perpetrators.
The perpetrator threatened the victim, saying, "If it's just for confirmation, don't publish the news. Unless you initially ask for an interview, then you can publish the news."
The victim was accused of publishing the news without prior confirmation or clarification to the Indonesian Navy. However, the victim claimed that he had confirmed the information and had an audio recording of an interview with one of the three Indonesian Navy perpetrators.