Wakatobi DPRD Member Elected as Fugitive in Murder Case
A fugitive in a murder case who has fled, but was elected as a member of the Wakatobi Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD). The fugitive is named Litao La Lita bin Abdul Malik, a member of the Wakatobi DPRD, and has been a fugitive from the Wakatobi Police since 2014. Interestingly, he was able to run in the 2024 legislative elections and was elected as a member of the Wakatobi DPRD.
Litao’s involvement in the assault case that resulted in the victim’s death is clearly stated in the Baubau District Court Decision Number 55/Pid.B/2015/PN.Bau dated June 29, 2015.
He was one of three perpetrators who abused a child named Wiranto to death. The other two perpetrators have been convicted and are undergoing legal proceedings.
However, at that time, he fled. Police failed to track down the perpetrator. In the 2024 legislative elections, he ran as a candidate representing the Hanura Party.
Meanwhile, the victim’s family was shocked. Why is a suspect who has fled the country able to run in the legislative elections and become a member of parliament?
The attorney for the victim’s family, La Ode Muhammad Sofyan Nurhasan, stated that the perpetrator had been named a suspect since the end of August. They received this information and conveyed it to the family.
“We welcome the police’s performance in naming him a suspect, even though 11 years have passed since the perpetrator was listed on the Wanted List,” Sofyan said in Kendari on Monday (September 7, 2025).
Separately, the Head of Public Relations for the Southeast Sulawesi Regional Police, Senior Commissioner Iis Kristian, when contacted in Kendari, confirmed the naming of the Wakatobi Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD) member as a suspect and that investigators would immediately summon Litao for questioning as a suspect.
“Yes, that’s right, he has been named a suspect. We will summon him and he will be processed further according to applicable legal provisions,” he concluded.
