Deli Serdang. Deli Serdang Police stated that the four suspects in the brutal murder of Muhammad Ilham (13), a junior high school student and resident of Sekip Village, Lubuk Pakam District, Deli Serdang Regency, face the death penalty.

“Under Article 340 of the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 80 paragraph (3) of Law No. 35 of 2014 concerning amendments to Law No. 23 of 2002 on Child Protection. The penalties are death, life imprisonment, or a maximum of 20 years in prison,” said the Deli Serdang Police Chief.

The police chief, accompanied by other officials, initially explained that the case was solved thanks to public assistance reporting a suspected murder of Ilham.

“We investigated further, and it turned out to be true based on the autopsy results and the suspects’ statements. So there are five perpetrators; four have been arrested, and one is still being pursued,” he stated.

The Head of Criminal Investigation stated that the arrested suspects have the initials DB (15), AS (18), DRH (15), and MH (20). Meanwhile, A is on the wanted list (DPO).

The murder was premeditated and began because suspect DB (a school friend) held a grudge against the victim, who often mocked DB’s parents.

“Then suspect DB asked suspect DRH to monitor the victim’s activities, as the victim happened to be a neighbor of suspect DRH,” the official said.

Subsequently, on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 5:00 PM local time, suspect DB complained to suspect AS to resolve his problem with the victim and planned to gather on Jalan Kebun Sayur, Gang Pelak, Sekip Village, Lubuk Pakam, around 10:00 PM local time.

“At that time, suspect AS invited suspect MH and suspect A, and they would gather at the planned location and time,” the official stated.

The official mentioned that suspect DRH also received information about the victim’s location and that he would pass through Jalan Kebun Sayur, Gang Pelak, Sekip Village.

DRH contacted suspect DB, saying ‘target is entering’. Upon hearing this information, suspect DB, who had previously gathered with suspects AS, MH, and A on Jalan Kebun, acted.

Around April 12, 2025, at 11:00 PM local time, the victim passed through Jalan Kebun Sayur with two friends, riding three on a single motorcycle.

Then suspect MH stopped the victim’s motorcycle with both hands and said, ‘Are you the one named Ilham?’. The victim answered, ‘Yes, bro, what’s up?’.

After confirming the victim was Ilham, suspect HM immediately punched the victim’s face and chest with full force, causing the victim to fall. Suspect DRH covered the victim’s mouth, and then the victim’s friends immediately ran away.

After the victim was weakened, suspect MH embraced the victim with his left arm and took him toward the bushes, followed by suspects DRH, AS, and DB from behind.

Then suspect A hid the victim’s motorcycle to avoid being seen by passersby. After taking the victim to the bushes, the suspect who had embraced him pushed the victim’s body with full force, causing the weakened victim to fall to the ground.

The official also stated that suspect MH ordered suspect DRH to check the victim, and suspect DRH checked the victim’s neck pulse and slapped his cheek.

DRH said, ‘still moving’. After hearing that, suspect MH asked suspect AS for a samurai-style machete and immediately slashed the victim twice toward the head.

Then suspect MH handed the machete to suspect AS and said, ‘Now it’s your turn, bro’.

Not satisfied, the victim was continuously tortured sadistically. Coral rocks were directed at his stomach until it split in two due to the force of the blows.

“Then suspect AS slashed the victim’s neck twice. After that, suspect DB punched the victim’s face and broke the victim’s left arm using his right foot, assisted by both hands