Family of Police Officer's Ex-Wife Found Dead in Medan Storms North Sumatra Police Headquarters

Dozens of relatives of Winda Lorenza Gowasa staged a protest in front of the North Sumatra Regional Police headquarters on Thursday (27/8). Winda was found dead alongside a firearm in the bathroom of the home of her ex-husband, Brigadier Imansyah Harefa.

Paul Junisu Jethro Tambunan, legal counsel for Winda Lorenza Gowasa’s family, said the protest aimed to pressure the North Sumatra Police to carry out an exhumation of Winda’s body in order to establish the certainty of the cause of her death. During the action, the family also submitted an exhumation request letter signed by both of Winda’s parents.

“We are requesting that an exhumation be carried out on the body of Winda Lorenza Gowasa. We have also submitted a request letter signed by both of Winda’s parents,” said Paul.

Winda’s family asked the North Sumatra Police to handle the case transparently, as there has been no significant development in the handling of Winda’s death to date. The family is still waiting for information from the Medan City Police regarding the progress of the investigation.

“To this day there has been no significant development. There has also been no further news from the Medan City Police. We are still waiting,” he said.

Paul questioned the investigation process that the police have conducted since 5 August 2026. According to him, this is the reason the family is asking for the case to be handled transparently and for the cause of Winda’s death to be re-examined through exhumation.

“It has been 25 days since we received information about Winda’s death, and there is still no certainty as to whether there is a perpetrator or whether it was purely suicide. But if it was purely suicide, why was the case elevated to the investigation stage on 5 August 2026?” said Paul.

Winda’s death was previously alleged to have been a suicide using a firearm belonging to her ex-husband. However, the family subsequently questioned that allegation and reported Brigadier Imansyah Harefa to the North Sumatra Police for alleged murder.