Police Invite Former UGM Student Leader to Report Discovery of Tracking Devices

The Yogyakarta Special Region Police (Polda DIY) have invited former Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Student Executive Board (BEM) chairman Tiyo Ardianto to file an official police report regarding the discovery of two suspected tracking devices attached to his car. “We encourage Mr Tiyo or the aggrieved party to immediately file an official report with the Yogyakarta Regional Police. The report is crucial as a legal basis for us to conduct a procedural, objective, and thorough investigation,” said Polda DIY Head of Public Relations, Senior Commissioner Ihsan, in a statement on Monday (15/6). Ihsan stated that so far, his office has not received an official report from Tiyo. Nevertheless, his team continues to monitor and gather preliminary information to maintain public order and security. Meanwhile, Tiyo himself is considering making an official police report regarding the discovery of the devices, suspected to be trackers called PBX Finders. “I am considering reporting it while conducting my own independent investigation,” Tiyo said separately. Tiyo revealed he found two tracking devices attached to the car he was driving. The discovery was disclosed through his personal Instagram account after he received several notifications from a tracking device called PBX Finder during a journey from Semarang to Yogyakarta. According to Tiyo, he initially noticed the presence of several unknown individuals who were openly following and photographing him while he was participating in a discussion event in Semarang on Saturday (13/6). “I think that was a signal that I was indeed under surveillance,” Tiyo said. After the event, Tiyo departed for Yogyakarta to take part in a demonstration in Gejayan. During the journey, his mobile phone received notifications about a tracking device moving along with him. After the protest ended, he inspected his car and found a box-shaped device with a magnet attached to the rear of the vehicle body. The following day, while returning to Semarang, similar notifications appeared even though the first device had been removed. After conducting another search, Tiyo found a second device, a flat circular object, attached with black tape to the right rear tyre. Tiyo admitted he was concerned because he did not know if the two devices were connected. He suspected the first device was installed while he was in Yogyakarta because it was still clean, whereas the second device had been attached since Friday (12/6) and was last tracked by its owner while he was at a hotel in the Tembalang area of Semarang. After consulting with several parties, Tiyo assessed that the installation of the tracking devices was likely a form of intimidation. “I think that is precisely where the terror lies. That this was deliberately installed for me to find, to serve as an alarm that wherever I go, there are people who know, there are people who are watching,” he concluded.