East Java Prosecutor's Office Reminded Not to Criminalise and to Maintain Legal Professionalism
A crowd calling itself the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Community Group (KEMAKI) staged a demonstration in front of the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office (Kejati Jatim) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.
The action was held as an expression of deep public concern over law enforcement and the stability of government.
The protest coordinator, Athoillah, said the demonstration was prompted by searches and the seizure of cash and gold bars worth hundreds of billions of rupiah allegedly belonging to the former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes at the Attorney General’s Office, Febrie Ardiyansah.
“KEMAKI believes this situation must become a moment for total evaluation, so that law enforcement agencies in the regions, particularly the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, do not commit acts of arrogant use of authority and criminalisation practices that wound the public’s sense of justice,” he said in a press release on Tuesday.
Athoillah said that, based on field observations and ongoing legal developments, the group highlighted a tendency to force administrative and civil or commercial disputes into criminal corruption cases.
He said this fault-finding tactic was seen as deliberately pursued to chase a false public image, and was strongly suspected of being driven by collaboration with certain parties for personal or group interests.
“The impact of this reckless and baseless law enforcement is fatal for regional stability, such as a disrupted investment climate, anxiety among officials and business actors, and the neglect of other legal aspects,” he said.
During the protest, which was marked by the burning of used tyres, KEMAKI voiced ten demands, namely:
Urging the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office, the Assistant Attorney for Special Crimes, the Head of the Operations Control Section, the Head of the Investigation Section, and all special crimes investigators within the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office without exception to conduct investigations professionally and objectively. Stop criminalisation, end fault-finding practices, and refuse to collaborate with certain parties for personal interests.
Demanding that the East Java High Prosecutor’s Office safeguard political stability, the business climate, investment, and the pace of government by not criminalising business actors and government officials on the basis of administrative errors or business governance issues.
KEMAKI fully supports proper law enforcement, namely investigating and prosecuting parties proven to have criminal intent (mens rea), not punishing someone for corruption offences merely due to administrative errors or business governance matters.