JAKARTA — Indonesian police have named 15 suspects in connection with the discovery of seven bodies floating in the Bekasi river, West Java, on Sunday morning.
Local media reported the first five bodies were found around 6:00 a.m. local time, followed by the discovery of two more soon after. The victims, reportedly teenagers, may have thrown themselves into the river while being chased by a police patrol.
“A total of 15 people were named as suspects and three of them were charged with carrying sharp weapons,” said Metro Jaya Police Chief Inspector General Karyoto at the river on Sunday.
He stressed that although it remains unclear whether the weapons were involved in the deaths, authorities continue to gather information from witnesses and suspects to clarify the circumstances.
Initial reports suggested the teenagers were involved in a brawl and fled from a police patrol that was passing through the area at 3:00 a.m. Police believed fear of the patrol may have driven them to jump into the river.
Karyoto emphasized that the patrol was acting within its duties, as brawls have become increasingly frequent in areas like East and South Jakarta, as well as Bekasi and Depok.
The bodies have been sent to Kramat Jati Police Hospital for identification, with DNA testing underway. The hospital has asked the victims’ families to provide personal items such as toothbrushes or unwashed clothing to aid in the identification process.
XINHUA
