Editor’s Note
- ViralViral: Theft victim designated as suspect
- Thief convicted of theft by the court
- Victim also designated as suspect in assault on thief
- Investigators will fully comply with the law
- Victim designated as suspect
Viral: Theft victim designated as suspect
Investigators from the Medan Police Criminal Investigation Department have confirmed that the designation of the theft victim as a suspect in the assault case was carried out in accordance with legal procedures.
“In this case, the investigators (from the Medan Police Department) are not confusing the status of victim and perpetrator.
The identification of the suspect is based on the evidence,” said Medan Police Chief Jean Calvijn Simanjuntak on Thursday (February 5).
He explained that the theft took place at a PP phone store on Monday, September 22, 2025.
In this case, two perpetrators, Glendito Oppusunggu and Rizky Kristian, were captured on CCTV during the crime.
The thieves have been convicted by the court.
“The theft case has been concluded by the court, with a prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months for the perpetrator and 1 year for the receiver,” he said. He added that an alleged assault took place at the Crystal Hotel on Jalan Jamin Ginting when PP and three other people, LS, W, and S, attempted to apprehend the two perpetrators.
The victim is also a suspect in the attack on the thieves.
“In this assault case, investigators have identified all four suspects. One of them, identified as PP, has been arrested, and the other three are wanted,” said the former director of the Narcotics Squad of the North Sumatra Regional Police.
Calvijn explained that the theft and the assault occurred at different times and locations and therefore cannot be considered part of the same chain of events.
The theft took place on September 22, 2025, at a PP store.
The attack took place on September 23, 2025.
“The victim of the theft cannot simply resort to violence.
The investigators will handle the case according to applicable law.
Everything has its own rules.” He stated that the Medan police investigators are committed to resolving the entire case objectively and in accordance with applicable law.
On that occasion, Calvijn refuted rumors that the perpetrators of the attack had jointly arrested the victim on the orders of officers from the Pancurbatu police station. “The perpetrators took the initiative to arrest the victim themselves, and one of them even claimed to be from the Pancurbatu police station,” he said.
Meanwhile, criminal law expert Dr. Alpi Sahari explained that in the context of criminal law, the essence of law enforcement is to do justice to all parties involved. The context of the theft case is therefore clear.
Victim designated as suspect
He explained that in this case, the collective attack went viral because the suspects attempted to influence public opinion and create the impression that the victim was being designated as a suspect. He believes that criminal law should be based on facts, not assumptions or opinions.
“Suspect PP deserves praise for his willingness to answer to the court, as he has confessed to his actions.
The Medan police should appoint a prosecution witness or a Crown witness. Therefore, a more lenient sentence is being given because he has confessed, which mitigated the sentence.
Justice for all parties, not just one. To those on the wanted list: surrender and take responsibility,” he concluded.
