Mutilation and Organ Trafficking: How Many Murders in Indonesia?

Recently, several high-profile murder cases have emerged in the public spotlight. One such case involves the mutilation of AH (54 years old) by EL (34 years old).

This case began when EL was reported missing after leaving for the bank. Police investigations revealed that EL had murdered and mutilated AH since 2021, hiding the victim's body in their rented house in Kampung Buaran, Bekasi Regency, West Java.

Another case involves two teenagers in Makassar City, AD (17 years old) and MF (14 years old), who were arrested for kidnapping and murdering MFS (11 years old). The two perpetrators committed this act with the intention of selling the victim's organs online.

While tragic, these cases represent only a small fraction of the total crime in Indonesia.

According to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (BPS), there were 927 murder cases nationwide in 2021, a 3.22% increase from the previous year.

In 2021, the highest number of murder cases occurred in the North Sumatra Regional Police jurisdiction (96 cases), followed by the Jakarta Metro Regional Police (77 cases), and the South Sumatra Regional Police (69 cases).

Meanwhile, the lowest number of murder cases in 2021 was recorded in the North Maluku Regional Police jurisdiction, with zero incidents.

Over the past five years, the highest number of murder cases was recorded in 2017, with 1,150 cases. However, this figure does not reflect the total number of individuals involved, as a single murder case can involve more than one perpetrator or victim.

"Murder is one of the highest-ranking crimes in the international classification of crimes. Furthermore, murder carries the most severe punishment under the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP)," stated the BPS in its 2022 Criminal Statistics report.