A student has died from an alleged mob beating in Gowa, South Sulawesi. The police have arrested 10 people in connection to the beating.
23-year-old student Muhammad Khaidir was attacked by a mob inside a mosque on December 10, 2018, after he was falsely accused of being a thief.
Police say Muhammad was a resident of Selayar regency and a student at Makassar’s East Indonesia University. He was not suspected of any felony.
The incident began when the victim went to the mosque at around 2am to observe tahajud, a voluntary night prayer, and found it locked. He then knocked on the door of a nearby resident, identified as YDS, to ask him to open mosque.
YDS reportedly became angry at Muhammad for knocking on his door and reprimanded him. Muhammad, the police said, apparently ignored the admonishment and left.
YDS then rushed to the mosque caretaker, identified as RDN, who announced on the mosque’s loudspeaker that a thief was at the mosque, kompas.com reported.
The neighbourhood residents started gathering at the mosque in response to the announcement. Muhammad, unaware that he was the accused, also joined the crowd at the mosque, which immediately attacked him.
YDS and RDN are among the 10 people the police have arrested in connection with the incident.
“All suspects have been charged with Article 170 of the Criminal Code on mob violence, with a maximum punishment of 12 years in prison,” National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said, as quoted by kompas.com on Monday.
Source: Jakarta Post