A tragic incident at Udayana University saw 22-year-old student Timothy Anugerah Saputra tragically lose his life on Wednesday, October 15, after allegedly jumping from the fourth floor of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences building. The circumstances surrounding his death have raised questions, particularly due to a crucial malfunction: the CCTV camera on the fourth floor of the building has reportedly been out of order since 2023, complicating the investigation into the exact events leading to the fall.
Kompol Laksmi Trisnadewi Wieryawan, Chief of the Denpasar Barat Police, stated that the suspicion of suicide is primarily supported by extensive examination of other available CCTV footage, specifically from the campus lobby, combined with testimonies gathered from several witnesses. The investigative team has diligently pieced together the sequence of events visible through functioning surveillance systems and eyewitness accounts to understand the moments before the tragedy.
Witnesses present at the time provided crucial details, recalling seeing the victim exit the elevator on the fourth floor. He then reportedly sat down on a chair and proceeded to remove his shoes. Just a few minutes later, these same witnesses observed that only the victim’s shoes remained on the chair, with Timothy himself no longer in sight, indicating a sudden and unexplained disappearance from the immediate area.
Addressing concerns raised by the victim’s father regarding surveillance, Kompol Laksmi clarified the situation with the campus security cameras. “We explained that CCTV footage from the lobby recorded the victim’s arrival and also captured the moment he fell,” Laksmi stated on Monday, October 20. She further elaborated, “It recorded when the victim entered the building in the front lobby. The same CCTV also captured the fall, but indeed, there was a CCTV camera on the fourth floor, which was damaged. We have coordinated with the campus authorities, and it’s estimated that the CCTV has been out of order since 2023.”
While the exact cause of the alleged suicide remains unknown, police have firmly ruled out bullying as a factor in Timothy’s death. This clarification comes amidst the ongoing investigation to understand any potential underlying issues. Adding another layer to the unfolding narrative, the victim’s mother revealed that Timothy had experienced noticeable behavioral changes over the past five months, a period during which she had been living with him.
In a poignant plea, Timothy’s mother expressed her acceptance of the tragedy and her desire for the legal process to cease. “The mother, who had been living with the victim for approximately five months, has sincerely accepted the situation and does not wish for further legal proceedings,” Laksmi conveyed. “The family’s hope is that this matter will not be continuously brought up. They want to let the victim rest in peace, and the grieving family also deserves tranquility. How would a mother feel if this painful event is constantly revisited?”
Summary
A 22-year-old student, Timothy Anugerah Saputra, tragically died on October 15 after allegedly jumping from the fourth floor of Udayana University. The investigation into his death is complicated because the CCTV camera on the fourth floor has been non-operational since 2023. Police suspect suicide based on available lobby CCTV footage, which captured his arrival and fall, and testimonies from witnesses who saw him on the fourth floor moments before he disappeared.
Authorities have ruled out bullying as a factor in Timothy’s death, though his mother noted behavioral changes in him over the past five months. She has expressed acceptance of the tragedy and a desire for legal proceedings to cease, wishing for her son to rest in peace and for her grieving family to find tranquility.