LBH Surabaya Prepares Legal Support for Re-Arrested Activist
Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Surabaya is preparing a series of legal measures to assist activist Muhammad Ainun Komarullah, known as Komar, from Bandung, who was arrested by Surabaya Metropolitan Police (Polrestabes Surabaya) on the very day of his release from detention.
Komar has also been named as a suspect by Polrestabes Surabaya for charges similar to those that resulted in his imprisonment at Rutan Kebonwaru in Bandung.
LBH Surabaya Director Habibus Shalihin stated that his organisation is currently focused on conducting an assessment of Komar’s condition and the details of his case.
This effort was undertaken immediately after the team received information regarding the unclear detention status that has left Komar’s family confused.
“We are still conducting an assessment of Komar, who is our client. That is why his parents do not yet fully understand the situation. Whether he is still with the police or with the prosecution,” said Habibus when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com on Thursday (12 March).
LBH Surabaya stated that its current priority is to meet Komar directly in order to discuss the detailed chronology of events and gather the necessary legal documents.
He stated that this step is crucial because complete data regarding the case charges brought by police have not been fully received by the legal team.
“So our first step today will be to meet with the person concerned and discuss further what measures can be taken. We will still try to review the documents held by the person concerned,” he said.
Based on initial information, Komar is suspected of being ensnared in a case relating to his postings on social media under the account @blackbloczone, similar to the matter he previously faced in Bandung.
Komar was previously sentenced to six months imprisonment by Bandung District Court on 12 February 2026. He was found guilty of managing the Instagram account @blackbloczone, which was deemed to have incited violence during the August 2025 demonstration disturbances at the West Java Regional House of Representatives complex.
After completing his prison term, Komar was scheduled to be released on Monday (9 March). However, Surabaya Metropolitan Police officers were waiting at the gate of Rutan Kebon Waru with an arrest warrant.
The principle of ne bis in idem
Polrestabes Surabaya cited Komar’s arrest as resulting from postings on the social media account he manages, which had an impact on disturbances in the area around the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya in August 2025.
For this reason, Habibus stated that LBH Surabaya suspects there are indications of law enforcement officials committing negligence or violations of applicable legal regulations, particularly regarding repeated prosecution for identical digital content.
He considered Komar’s arrest as a violation of the ne bis in idem principle, which remains applicable as set out in Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the New Criminal Code.
“In Komar’s case, there are actually indications that law enforcement officials have been negligent regarding several regulations, one of which concerns the principle that one matter cannot be tried multiple times, which is called ne bis in idem,” said Habibus.
Habibus stated that LBH Surabaya is open to all options for legal assistance, both litigation in court proceedings and non-litigation measures outside court.
“Because we are discussing these efforts with the person concerned. These can later be communicated to the public, whether in the form of preterm judicial review or taking reporting measures outside court, for example to the National Human Rights Commission or Commission III of the House of Representatives,” he said.
Separately, Surabaya Metropolitan Police’s Head of Criminal Investigation AKBP Edy Herwiyanto previously confirmed the arrest. He explained that Komar’s case status in Surabaya has reached the P21 stage or completion stage. Therefore, after being handed over to prosecutors, Komar will soon face trial.
“That is correct and the suspect has been handed over to the prosecution because the case has reached P21 status. As of Tuesday, 10 March 2026,” said Edy when contacted by CNNIndonesia.com on Wednesday (11 March).
Edy stated that Komar was arrested because of postings on the social media account he manages, which had an impact on disturbances in the area around the Grahadi State Building in Surabaya in August 2025.
“The case involves incitement using the @blackblokzone account which resulted in disturbances at Grahadi,” he said.
Surabaya Metropolitan Police Public Relations Chief AKP Hadi Ismanto detailed the charges Komar faces relating to incitement and the spread of false information.
“Articles 45A paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) in conjunction with Article 28 paragraph (2) and (3) of Law of the Republic of Indonesia Number 1 of 2024 concerning the second amendment to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions and/or Article 187 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 363 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 170 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 160 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 406 of the Criminal Code and/or Article 212 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 55 of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 56 of the Criminal Code,” said Hadi.