DPR Member Questions Why Police Frequently Designate Victims as Suspects

JAKARTA — A member of Commission III of the DPR, Safaruddin, expressed bewilderment at why police frequently designate victims of criminal cases as suspects.

This statement was made by Safaruddin during a public hearing regarding a defamation case involving social media personality and restaurant owner Bibi Kelinci, Nabilah O’Brien.

“Looking at this case, Nabilah should not have faced criminal charges. I don’t understand why the police so casually designate people who are victims as suspects,” said Safaruddin during the hearing.

The case involved Zendhy, who allegedly failed to pay for a substantial food order at the Bibi Kelinci restaurant.

Although the defamation charges against Nabilah have been dropped, Safaruddin emphasised that she should never have been designated as a suspect from the outset.

“Article 36 of the Criminal Code must be respected. Even under the Information and Electronic Transactions Law, she could not have been prosecuted because this falls under public interest,” Safaruddin stated.

Safaruddin also called upon the police to act fairly and carefully in law enforcement to prevent similar cases from recurring.

“I urge the National Police throughout Indonesia—the General Criminal Investigation Unit, regional police forces, and district police—to ensure this never happens again. Stop looking for faults with innocent people,” he said.

Previously reported, Nabilah and Zendhy underwent mediation that resulted in a settlement.

Brigadier General Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko, Head of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police Communications Division, stated that following this peace agreement, both parties mutually withdrew their reports.

“Representatives from both sides—Saudari Z and her spouse, as well as Saudari NA and KDH—were present and entered into a peace agreement. In this agreement, which we explained earlier, each party has withdrawn their respective reports,” said Trunoyudo at National Police Headquarters on Sunday, 8 March 2026.

According to Trunoyudo, the mediation and settlement were facilitated after police analysed two reports filed by each party at Mampang Prapatan Police Station and the General Criminal Investigation Unit.

Trunoyudo expressed hope that the settlement would provide a sense of justice to all parties involved.

“Through the mediation process and withdrawal of reports, both parties also deleted their social media posts, which became part of the peace agreement,” he said.