Authorities in Malang have officially terminated the legal proceedings against Imam Muslimin, a former lecturer at UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim, following his death while in police custody. The decision to stop the investigation, known as an SP3 (Surat Perintah Penghentian Penyidikan), was announced by the Polresta Malang Kota on Tuesday evening, April 14, 2026.
The death of the man commonly known as Yai Mim occurred shortly before investigators from the Satreskrim Polresta Malang Kota were scheduled to question him. At the time of his passing, Yai Mim was being held as a suspect in a pornography case, a status that legally necessitates the cessation of criminal proceedings upon the death of the accused.
According to AKP Rahmad Aji Prabowo, the Head of Criminal Investigation (Kasatreskrim) at Polresta Malang Kota, the move is a direct application of Indonesian criminal procedure. “Regarding the handling of the case related to Yai Mim, we have issued an SP3 (termination of investigation),” Prabowo stated, citing the legal framework that governs such transitions.
Legal Basis for the Termination of Proceedings
The decision to halt the investigation is grounded in the Kitab Undang-Undang Hukum Acara Pidana (KUHAP), specifically Article 24. Under Indonesian law, the death of a suspect serves as a legal ground to terminate the investigation because criminal liability is personal and cannot be transferred to heirs or continued after the subject’s demise.
AKP Rahmad Aji Prabowo emphasized that the law is explicit in these circumstances. “According to Article 24 of the KUHAP, it is explained that if a suspect dies, the investigation process can be stopped,” he affirmed. This ensures that the legal system does not pursue a case where a trial and subsequent sentencing are no longer possible.
The termination of the pornography case marks the end of the state’s pursuit of charges against the former academic, though it leaves a complex trail of unresolved grievances involving other parties in the community.
Overlapping Legal Disputes and Unfinished Testimony
While Yai Mim was a suspect in the pornography case, he was simultaneously involved in a separate legal matter where he held the role of the complainant. This secondary case involved allegations of physical assault, adding a layer of complexity to his final days in custody.
Investigators had planned to examine Yai Mim as a witness and reporter in a case against a neighbor, identified only by the initial F. The dispute originated in the Perum Kavling Depag III Atas area, located within the Merjosari Village of the Lowokwaru District in Malang City. Yai Mim had filed a report alleging that F had assaulted him.
The timing of his death prevented the police from gathering the necessary testimony to move that specific case forward. “He was to be examined as a reporter regarding another matter. Alleged assault with the reported party F (his neighbor),” Prabowo explained. Because the primary witness and victim of the alleged assault has passed away, the progress of the assault investigation may now face significant evidentiary challenges.
Timeline of Legal Status
| Case Type | Legal Status | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Pornography Case | Suspect/Detainee | Terminated (SP3) |
| Assault Case | Complainant/Reporter | Pending/Incomplete Testimony |
The Impact on the Academic Community and Local Residents
The passing of Yai Mim has resonated within the academic circles of UIN Maulana Malik Ibrahim, where he previously served as a lecturer. The intersection of his professional standing and the nature of the charges he faced—ranging from pornography to neighborhood disputes—highlights a volatile period in the former lecturer’s life.
For the residents of the Merjosari area, particularly those in the Depag III housing complex, the resolution of the assault case remains an open question. With the complainant no longer able to provide testimony, the police must now determine if there is sufficient independent evidence to proceed against the neighbor, F, or if that case will as well be stalled due to the loss of the primary witness.
The use of the SP3 mechanism is a standard administrative procedure in the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to clear case files when the legal subject is no longer available for trial. However, it does not erase the facts of the investigation; it simply closes the path to a judicial verdict.
Disclaimer: This report is based on law enforcement statements regarding criminal procedure and does not constitute legal advice.
The next confirmed step involves the formal administration of the SP3 documents and the notification of relevant parties regarding the closure of the pornography case. Police have not yet announced a revised timeline for the assault investigation involving the neighbor, F.
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