Police Question Six Witnesses over Alleged Manggarai Assault on Volunteer

Ruteng — Police in Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara, have moved an alleged assault case involving humanitarian volunteer Yohanes Ican Jegau from preliminary inquiry to formal investigation after examining six witnesses and one alleged perpetrator in connection with an incident on the Ruteng–Reo road in Karot Sondeng on Sunday, 13 September 2026, according to local media and police statements.

Kasat Reskrim (head of criminal investigations) at Manggarai Police, Iptu Harris Islamy Pasya, said the report of alleged assault against Jegau was filed with Manggarai Police on Sunday, 13 September 2026. He stated that the incident occurred the same day on the Ruteng–Reo road in Karot Sondeng, Karot subdistrict, Langke Rembong, Manggarai.

Jegau is identified in news reports as part of a Caritas volunteer team providing humanitarian assistance to communities affected by the Flores earthquake in Manggarai. The team had been delivering post-earthquake aid and psychosocial support in villages including Kampung Rengket, Cibal Barat, before returning toward Ruteng.

Police description of the incident

According to Pasya’s account quoted by several outlets, the alleged assault occurred at around 14:20 local time on the Ruteng–Reo road at Karot Sondeng. Police say Jegau left the vehicle to clarify an earlier incident involving the volunteer car when he was allegedly struck.

Pasya said a man identified by the initials YBO is alleged to have swung his right hand, formed into a fist, and punched Jegau once on the right cheek, causing bruising. The incident is being treated as a suspected criminal assault.

After receiving the report, investigators visited the scene and took Jegau to Ruteng General Hospital for a forensic medical examination to document his injuries, Pasya said. Police have not publicly disclosed the results of that examination.

Investigation steps so far

Pasya told local media that the case status has been raised from penyelidikan (preliminary inquiry) to penyidikan (formal investigation). He said officers have completed formal questioning of six witnesses and one person described as the alleged perpetrator.

Representing Police Chief AKBP Levi Defriansyah, Pasya said a case conference has been held and that investigators would continue to process the file in accordance with criminal procedure. He pledged that the investigation would be handled professionally and transparently, with further developments to follow legal channels.

Police have not publicly announced whether YBO has been formally named a suspect, nor have they reported any arrests or court filings in relation to the case as of mid-September 2026.

Context: volunteers attacked after delivering quake aid

The alleged assault on Jegau occurred amid broader reports that two Caritas volunteers returning from post-earthquake work were attacked by a group of unidentified people in Karot on 13 September. Caritas Ruteng director Benediktus Gaguk said the team, including doctors and nursing students, had just completed humanitarian service in quake-hit Cibal when their vehicle was reportedly blocked and stoned by a motorcyclist and companions near Sondeng.

Police have confirmed receiving reports of assault against volunteers responding to the Flores earthquake and say they are investigating the incidents. According to Manggarai Police public relations officer AKP Gusti Putu Saba Nugraha, two volunteers reported suffering bruising and have lodged a complaint.

The investigation into the alleged assault on Jegau and other volunteers remains ongoing. Under Indonesian law and the presumption of innocence, those identified in connection with the case remain alleged perpetrators unless and until a court determines their legal responsibility.

Sources

• Tribun Flores
• RRI Manggarai
• VIVA NTT
• Detik Bali (regional news)
• Pikiran Rakyat Flores
• SaranaInformasi.com