Rico Sempurna Pasaribu (c. 1984 – 27 June 2024) was an Indonesian journalist who worked for the Medan-based Tribrata TV covering regional news in North Sumatra.
In June 2024, he died alongside his wife, daughter and grandson in a house fire, shortly after reporting on allegations of gambling, prostitution and drug running by a senior figure in the Indonesian Army.
[1] On 22 June 2024, Tribrata TV published an article by Pasaribu which alleged that an illegal gambling den located close to the barracks of the 125th Infantry Battalion in the Pedangmas district of Kabanjahe was operated by a corporal within the Indonesian Army.
[4] A spokesperson for the Indonesian Army stated that local authorities had interviewed the soldier identified by Pasaribu, and that their investigation had found that he was not involved in gambling or any other illegal activities.
An editorial also raised concerns that local police appeared to be covering up the fire by suggesting it was an accident, citing gasoline and gas cylinders stored in Pasaribu's wife's shop.