‘Justice for Affan’: Outrage in Jakarta after delivery rider killed by police vehicle in protest clash

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JAKARTA - Grief and fury swept through Indonesia’s capital of Jakarta as the family of 21-year-old Affan Kurniawan mourned the death of the

young ride-hailing motorbike driver

Surrounded by relatives and neighbours, his grief-stricken mother Erlina, who goes by one name, spoke through her tears to The Straits Times at her family home.

“I want the person who killed my son to get the harshest sanction by the law.... he had just ended a food delivery and was about to pick up his next passenger,” the 41-year-old housemaid said.

“He’s the backbone of our family, and worked very hard. He had been saving up money from his job to buy land and build a house for us back in our village in Lampung (in South Sumatra),” she added.

The incident occurred during Jakarta’s second major protest in a week, fuelled by public anger over generous allowances being offered to legislators.

According to Madam Erlina, on the night of Aug 28, Mr Affan had just dropped off a delivery order when he became trapped in the chaos of a demonstration in Pejompongan, Central Jakarta.

A Brimob paramilitary tactical vehicle sped through the crowd, striking him before accelerating away. Seven officers have been detained and investigations are ongoing to determine who was driving the vehicle.

At Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital late Aug 28, Mr Affan’s relatives wept openly as National Police Chief General Listyo