The case of KD, the man beaten to death by a mob in Tabanan after allegedly stealing a chicken, has taken a significant legal turn: his family, having initially signed a reconciliation agreement in the immediate shock of his death, has now reversed course and formally pursued criminal charges, while police have exhumed his body to gather forensic evidence for the ongoing investigation.
Tabanan Police have already named five suspects in the mob attack, identified as MJ, 29, WS, 38, KB, 21, MK, 58, and ND, 53, all residents of Banjar Juwuk Legi, Batunya Village, Baturiti District, where the killing took place.
A Peace Agreement Signed Before the Truth Was Known
Made Parta, KD’s cousin, revealed he had initially signed a peace agreement when collecting KD’s body on Friday, July 24, 2026. At that point, he said, the family had no clear understanding of the victim’s condition or the mob violence that had actually occurred.
According to Parta, the family’s position shifted dramatically after photos and videos of the incident began circulating on social media, footage that revealed the extent of the violence KD had suffered. “I was shocked seeing his condition. His wife also couldn’t accept it once she learned what had really happened,” Parta said on Monday, July 27, 2026, as reported by Kompas.com.
Once the family understood the full picture, they made the decision to hand the case entirely over to law enforcement. “We’re leaving everything to the legal process. Our hope is that everyone who committed such a cruel act can be arrested and punished as fairly as possible. We’ll be filing an official report with Tabanan Police very soon,” Parta explained.
Family Consents to Autopsy and Exhumation
Beyond preparing a formal police report, the family has actively supported the ongoing investigation. Parta confirmed the family had granted permission for an autopsy and exhumation of KD’s grave, coordinating with police on what was needed to examine the body and determine the precise cause of death.
“If it’s needed for the investigation, we’re ready. The family has already authorized the autopsy,” he said.
Police Exhume KD’s Grave
Police carried out the exhumation of KD’s grave at Sidetapa Traditional Village Cemetery in Buleleng on the afternoon of Monday, July 27, 2026.
At the scene, the burial area was cordoned off with police lines, with multiple officers stationed around the grave to secure the exhumation process. Investigators from Tabanan Police’s Criminal Investigation Unit, forensic identification officers, and a medical forensics team were present to examine the remains.
Tabanan Police Chief AKBP I Putu Bayu Pati said the exhumation was conducted to complete the ongoing criminal investigation. According to him, the forensic examination results will serve as key evidence, with the exhumation process expected to strengthen the case investigators are currently building.
“The main purpose of the exhumation is to confirm the identity of the deceased, determine the exact cause of death, and document evidence of violence for the purposes of upholding legal justice,” he said, as reported by Kompas.com.
Why This Reversal Matters
The family’s decision to withdraw from an initial peace agreement, made before they fully understood what had happened, and instead pursue formal prosecution reflects a broader pattern often seen in cases involving informal reconciliation in rural Indonesia: agreements reached in the immediate aftermath of trauma, before full facts emerge, that families later revisit once the true circumstances become clear.
For a case that has already drawn compensation and support from multiple layers of government, alongside public debate over KD’s prior criminal record, the family’s pivot toward formal legal action signals that they, at least, see accountability for his death as non-negotiable, regardless of what he may have been accused of that night.
What’s Next
With forensic results from the exhumation still pending and a formal police report from the family expected imminently, the case is likely to move further into the criminal justice process in the coming weeks. This report will be updated as more information becomes available.
