DIY Police Name Three Suspects in Disbanding of GMS Bantul Church Service

The Yogyakarta Special Region Police (Polda DIY) have named three suspects in the case of the disbanding of a service at the Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) in Sewon, Bantul, on Sunday, 24 May.

Polda DIY Head of Public Relations, Commissioner Ihsan, stated that the suspects were identified following a case review by investigators from the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum). At least 32 witnesses have been examined during the investigation process.

"Investigators from the Polda DIY Ditreskrimum have named three individuals as suspects, with the initials D (47), BS (54), and AH (55)," Ihsan said in a statement on Friday evening, 14 August 2026.

Ihsan did not yet detail the specific roles of each suspect. "Investigators have also issued official summons letters to the three suspects. We expect the suspects to be cooperative by complying with the investigator’s summons and undergoing the ongoing legal process," he said.

The suspects are charged with alleged criminal acts against religious life or beliefs and places of worship, as stipulated in Article 303 paragraph (3) or Article 303 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.

Previously, Polda DIY had elevated the status of the case concerning the disbanding of the service at GMS Bantul to the investigation stage. Ihsan stated that the case status was upgraded to an investigation on 29 May after investigators conducted a case review. The perpetrators are believed to have been more than one person.

A mob disbanded the service at GMS Bantul on Sunday, 24 May. The church reported that the disbanding was carried out with intimidation and threats. Video footage of the incident also went viral on social media. GMS Central Public Relations representative Josiah Michael expressed regret over the disbanding of the service, which was accompanied by alleged acts of intimidation and threats against the congregation in Bantul. "We deeply regret the incident of the service disbandment, which was followed by alleged acts of physical and verbal intimidation and threats from a group of irresponsible individuals against our GMS Bantul brothers and sisters," Josiah Michael said in a statement to journalists on Tuesday, 26 May. "This incident has left wounds and trauma on the congregation, especially the children."