Police Hunt Masterminds and Financiers Behind 27 August Riots

The Metro Jaya Regional Police continue to pursue the intellectual actors and financiers behind the riots that took place on 27 August.

“We remain committed to investigating the intellectual actors, the mobilisers, and the providers of funding behind the riots that were caused,” stated the Director of General Criminal Investigation of Metro Jaya Police, Kombes Iman Imanuddin, during a press conference on Wednesday (2/9).

Iman confirmed that the unrest following the demonstration was not carried out by the protesters themselves, as the demonstration had concluded before the riots broke out.

“Suddenly, a group of unknown individuals appeared, not to express aspirations, but to immediately engage in destruction. Therefore, these are groups of rioters. Although they appeared in separate sections, we suspect there was mobilisation involved,” he said.

On this basis, the police are continuing their investigation and pursuing parties suspected of being involved in the mobilisation of the masses behind the riotous actions.

“We are currently conducting deep investigations into the intellectual actors, the suspected providers of funding, as well as the mobilisers of the rioting masses,” he added.

“This is an organised model, sharing similarities with previous incidents or riots that frequently occur,” he continued.

Iman also noted that no indications have yet been found regarding the involvement of specific groups or mass organisations behind the riots.

“Based on the results of the investigation and witness statements obtained during the process, we have not found any indications that these perpetrators are members of a specific community. This information was obtained from witnesses we have interviewed,” he said.

To date, the Metro Jaya Regional Police have named 47 suspects related to the destruction of public facilities and assault during the 27 August riots. Three of them are known to be suspects in the destruction of CCTV cameras in front of the DPR/MPR Building.