On 29 December 2024, Mr Rabin Marselino Yarangga, a journalist, was attacked by a mob at Remu Market in Sorong, Papua Barat Daya Province, after being mistakenly accused of theft. Severely injured, Mr Yarangga was brought to Sorong City Police Station, where three police officers tortured him during detention. The collective beatings during the mob attack and police detention left Mr Rabin Yarangga with a laceration requiring 13 stitches, a suspected arm fracture, and emotional trauma (see photos below, source: Suara Papua).
The incident occurred after Mr Yarangga and his brother visited relatives near the Remu Market around 4:00 pm. While retrieving his parked motorcycle, he was falsely accused of theft and chased by a mob who struck him with wooden objects. The mob handed Mr Yarangga to police officers who brought him to the Sorong City Police Station at 05:00 pm. Despite his injuries, police officers reportedly continued punching and kicking him at the police station. They only stopped the torture after Mr Yarangga gave his press card to the officers. Mr Yarangga’s ordeal as police officers brought Mr Rabin Yarangga to Sele Be Solu Hospital, where they left him in a room without being reported to the duty officer. Apart from being battered, Mr Yarangga lost his wallet and cell phone.
Mr Yarangga and his relatives condemned the inhumane treatment and called for the perpetrators—both the mob and the police officers—to be held accountable. The family has reported the case to police authorities to demand justice. Sorong City Police Chief, Commissioner Happy Perdana Yudianto, stated that the allegations of police violence will be investigated by the Internal Profession and Security Unit (Propam).
Mr Marselino Yarangga receiving medical treatment at the Sele Be Solu Hospital in Sorong (source: Suara Papua)
Detailed Case Data
name of the location: Pasar Remu Sorong (-0.8880991913731587, 131.28610426642985)
administrative region: Indonesia, Papua Barat Daya Province, Sorong City
total number of victims: one
period of incident: 29.12.2024
perpetrator: civilians, police
perpetrator details: unknown
Issues: torture, ill-treatment, indigenous
Sources:
Further HRM News:
| Number | Name, Details | Gender | Age | Group Affiliation | Violations |
| 1 | Marselino Yarangga, journalist | male | unknown | indigenous | ill-treatment, torture |
