SAMARINDA, LITERASIHUKUM.COM — Police are still investigating the discovery of three human finger fragments inside a jar containing liquid suspected to be muriatic acid on Jalan Rimbawan 1, Sungai Kunjang District, Samarinda, East Kalimantan. The jar was found on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by a gardener while cleaning weeds. Police suspect the finger fragments were deliberately discarded and preserved.

Head of Criminal Investigation Unit of Sungai Kunjang Police, Ipda Novi Hari Setiawan, said that from the initial examination, a liquid suspected of being used as a preservative was found inside the jar. Therefore, the police do not see this finding as just an ordinary disposal, but as an event that needs to be investigated forensically and criminalistically. The finger fragments were then evacuated and taken to Abdul Wahab Sjahranie Hospital for further examination.

After receiving reports from residents, officers from the Resort Police and Sector Police, along with the Inafis unit, came to the location to process the crime scene. Police have also questioned a number of witnesses, including residents who first discovered the jar and the local RT head. The investigation is now focused on uncovering the identity of the finger fragment owner, the origin of the jar, and the possibility of a crime preceding the discovery.

In the latest development, Samarinda Police Chief Kombes Hendri Umar stated that the identity of the finger fragment owner has not been successfully found after an initial check with the Inafis device. Police are now working with the medical team at Abdul Wahab Sjahranie Hospital to sterilize and maximize the identification process. If the local identification results are not sufficient, the police will coordinate with the Surabaya Forensic Laboratory. Preliminary suspicion is that the fragment is a left hand finger and points to the male gender, but official certainty is still awaiting further examination results.

This case has become a concern because the form of the finding is unusual and potentially related to a more serious crime. Therefore, the police urge the public to immediately report if they know of any residents who are missing, have serious hand injuries, or have information related to the discovery. For now, the authorities have not concluded the motive or background of the incident, and emphasize that all possibilities remain open during the investigation process.