Police Name 45 Suspects in DPR Demonstration Riots, Detail Their Roles

Police have named 45 people as suspects in cases of vandalism and assault linked to the riots during a protest around the DPR/MPR building on Thursday (27/8).

Director of General Criminal Investigation at Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Iman Imannudin, said that based on intensive examination and mapping of evidence, police have divided the perpetrators into six role clusters.

“Based on evidence and witnesses in the investigation process, we have now named 45 people as suspects for vandalism and assault, and three as suspects for misuse of sharp weapons,” Iman said at a press conference at Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, Friday (28/8).

Iman detailed the mapping of networks and roles of the riot perpetrators as follows:

Investigators are currently looking into indications of criminal child exploitation, in which children were allegedly used by certain parties to carry out unlawful acts, potentially violating the Child Protection Law.

The suspects’ modus operandi includes damaging public facilities, assaulting people and property, committing group violence in public, provoking chaos, and carrying sharp weapons.

Iman stressed that police continue to guarantee citizens’ right to express their opinions, as long as it is done in an orderly and responsible manner.

“Polda Metro Jaya does not tolerate any acts that disrupt public order. We urge the public not to be easily provoked by unverified information and not to bring dangerous objects during protests,” Iman said.