Police move Marina Labuan Bajo assault case to formal investigation

Labuan Bajo — Manggarai Barat police have upgraded an alleged assault case involving a port parking attendant at Marina Labuan Bajo from a preliminary inquiry to a formal investigation after obtaining what they describe as sufficient evidence, and say a suspect naming is imminent.

According to Manggarai Barat Police Criminal Investigation Chief AKP Lufthi Darmawan Aditya, the evidence consists of witness statements and a medical examination report, or visum et repertum, collected in the weeks following the incident. He told local media that the case status was raised from inquiry to investigation after an internal case conference at Manggarai Barat police station on 16 September 2026.

The alleged attacker is identified as Samuel, a staff member at the Class III Office of Harbormaster and Port Authority (KSOP) Labuan Bajo, while the alleged victim is named Engelbertus Abun, a parking‑gate attendant at Marina Labuan Bajo. Both men work in the port area.

Police account of the incident

Police and media reports state that the incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, 14 August 2026, near the entrance and exit gate of Marina Labuan Bajo, Komodo district, West Manggarai regency. The victim’s legal representative told Floresa that the assault took place around 03.00 WITA.

Floresa reports that the confrontation followed a dispute over the movement of a Pertamina tanker truck leaving the port area, when the KSOP staff member stopped the vehicle and asked the driver to show bunker‑permit documents. When the situation escalated, the parking attendant opened the barrier to allow the tanker to exit, which allegedly angered the KSOP employee.

Investigators allege that the man then struck the attendant multiple times in the face with his bare hands. Floresa, citing CCTV footage it obtained, reports that the alleged attacker hit the victim four times while the victim did not fight back.

The attendant reportedly suffered bruising and swelling to his forehead and temple area and complained of pain, dizziness and blurred vision, according to his own account and statements from his lawyer. Detik also reports that the victim described his forehead as swollen and his temple hurting after the incident.

Case data

• Incident: alleged assault at Marina Labuan Bajo involving KSOP staff and a parking‑gate attendant
• Police report: filed at Manggarai Barat police on 14 August 2026, the day of the incident
• Evidence cited by police: witness statements and a visum et repertum medical report

Investigation steps and calls for detention

AKP Lufthi Darmawan Aditya told Okebajo that, prior to the upgrade of case status, investigators had questioned three people during the preliminary inquiry: the complainant, the reported party and one other witness. With the case now formally in the investigation phase, police say they are preparing an investigation warrant, notifying the Manggarai Barat prosecutor’s office, summoning additional witnesses for pro‑justitia questioning and holding a case conference to designate a suspect.

The case is being handled under Article 351 of Indonesia’s Criminal Code, which covers maltreatment or assault, according to the police explanation reported by Okebajo. Lufthi said that with the current evidence, “in the near future investigators will designate a suspect,” but as of 16 September 2026 no formal suspect announcement had been reported.

The victim’s family and legal representatives have publicly urged police to detain the alleged attacker. On 3 September 2026, six family representatives visited Manggarai Barat police station to press for detention, according to Floresa. The family’s lawyer told the outlet they wanted the case pursued as a deterrent and rejected an attempt to settle the matter amicably.

Floresa reports that KSOP Class III Labuan Bajo chief Stefanus Rusdiyanto sent a staff member to meet the family after the report was filed; the staff member conveyed an apology and sought a family settlement, which the family declined. Rusdiyanto told Floresa and other media that KSOP was conducting an internal review and would take disciplinary or employment action if violations of discipline or staffing rules were found.

Timeline and prior incident

Floresa and other outlets report that the alleged assault occurred on 14 August 2026 and was reported to Manggarai Barat police the same day. On 3 September, the victim’s family visited the police station to demand further action. By 7 September, local outlets were still noting the absence of any suspect designation. On 16 September, Manggarai Barat police announced that the case had been upgraded to a formal investigation and said a suspect naming was imminent.

Floresa also reports that the same KSOP employee had previously been reported to police over an incident involving a traffic officer in Labuan Bajo around five months earlier, but that case was resolved amicably. The available reporting does not state whether that earlier matter will have any formal bearing on the current investigation.

Sources

• Okebajo.com
• Floresa.co
• Detik.com (regional Nusra/Bali section)
• Floresinside.com