Legal Practitioner: The State Must Not Succumb to Trial by Opinion

Legal practitioner Rahmat Sorialam Harahap has emphasised that Indonesia, as a state governed by law, must ensure that all law enforcement processes are conducted based on regulations, not on public opinion or fleeting interests. He stated that the principle of a state of law, as affirmed in Article 1, Paragraph (3) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia, requires all state administrators, including law enforcement officers, to exercise their authority professionally, objectively, and with respect for the rights of citizens. “The law must not turn into a trial by opinion,” Rahmat said in a written statement on Sunday (12/7/2026). He added that a person cannot be declared guilty merely because of public perception or massive media coverage. He explained that the success of law enforcement is not solely measured by the number of cases uncovered or the speed of the legal process. More importantly, it is about the quality of the legal process itself. “Dignified law enforcement is one that maintains a balance between efforts to eradicate crime and the protection of individual rights,” he said. Rahmat stressed that Pancasila, as the source of all sources of law, provides a clear direction that Indonesian law must not only pursue legal certainty but also deliver justice and uphold human dignity. He noted that this value is reflected in the second principle of Pancasila, Just and Civilised Humanity, which mandates that every person be treated fairly and with dignity throughout all stages of the legal process.