Murderous drama in the Malang stadium in Indonesia: nine police officers laid off

Fans of the Arema FC football club pray for the victims of Saturday's tragedy in front of the Kanjuruhan stadium in Malang, Indonesia, this Monday, October 3, 2022. AP - Achmad Ibrahim

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

Prisoners in a crowded stadium, suffocating under tear gas, more than 120 supporters died of asphyxiation or crushed in the stadium of Malang, on the island of Java.

If the responsibility of the police was quickly pointed out, thanks to the many videos taken by the spectators, it now results in the layoff of certain police officers.

Advertising

Read more

With our regional correspondent,

If football fans have an often ambiguous relationship with video refereeing, a few days after the tragedy at the Malang stadium, Indonesian fans are now scrutinizing the tragic post-match videos with great expectation and attention. from last Saturday, which are circulating virally.

We clearly see, despite goals that are often shaken or of poor quality, total chaos seizes the stadium, with a smoky lawn and bleachers under tear gas, people blocked unable to leave the stadium, policemen beating the supporters who invaded the lawn after the match with truncheons.

Via these videos, the responsibility of the tear gas becomes more and more obvious, as its thick white smoke created the panic of a dense crowd suffocating in this stadium without enough emergency exits.

The Indonesian authorities have announced that nine police officers, including the local police chief, have already been suspended, while the 18 officers who launched tear gas are for their part questioned.

The Indonesian Minister of Security has finally declared that the police officers suspected of embezzlement will be subject to criminal prosecution.

►To re-read: Indonesia: after the tragedy in the Malang stadium, the police come under fire from critics

Newsletter

Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

• Indonesia

• Sports

• Justice

• Soccer