Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. A fire destroyed the private residence of Medan District Court Judge Khamozaro Waruwu on Tuesday, just as he was presiding over a major corruption case involving senior officials in North Sumatra. 

The blaze broke out around 10.40 am local time, gutting the master bedroom where important legal documents and valuables were stored, as reported by antaranews.com.

“We deeply mourn this incident and urge law enforcement to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire,” said Yasardin, the President of the Indonesian Judges Association (IKAHI), during a press briefing in Jakarta on Thursday (6/11/2025).

Prior to the incident, Judge Khomazaro reportedly received repeated anonymous phone calls that offered no response when answered, raising concerns of possible intimidation. The case he oversees implicates Topan Ginting, a former North Sumatra public works head, and executives from PT Dalihan Na Tolu Group in an alleged road project bribery scheme. Authorities are now probing whether the fire was linked to his judicial role.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)