Roy Suryo Refuses to Sign Detention Transfer, Claims He Was Forced to Wear Orange Vest

Suspects in the case of alleged false claims about 7th President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo’s (Jokowi) diploma, Roy Suryo and Tifauziah Tyassuma, also known as Doctor Tifa, reportedly refused to sign the official report on the transfer of their detention from Polda Metro Jaya to the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office (Kejari Jaksel). This was revealed by their legal counsel, Ahmad Khozinudin, following the phase two handover at the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office on Monday (22/6). “The official report on the transfer of detention from the Polda to the Prosecutor’s Office was not signed, it was refused, and indeed it is not relevant,” he said at the Kejari Jaksel. Khozinudin stated that neither the old Criminal Code (KUHP) nor the new one mandates detention during the phase two process. According to him, detention can only be carried out if there are subjective or objective elements from the investigator, such as concerns about the suspect fleeing, destroying evidence, or committing another criminal act. “From the beginning, the suspect status of both Roy Suryo and Tifa was never detained. This confirms that there were indeed no concerns about either of them fleeing, destroying evidence, or committing the alleged criminal act,” he said. “Because there is no detention status, the phase two process is not about transferring detainee status from the Polda to the Prosecutor’s Office,” he continued. Khozinudin also revealed that Roy was forced by the police to wear a detainee’s vest during the handover process. It is known that Roy never wore a detainee’s vest when he was taken from the Polda Metro Jaya detention centre to the Kramat Jati Police Hospital for a medical examination. Roy also did not wear a detainee’s vest when he was brought back to Polda Metro Jaya from the Police Hospital, including when he was taken from Polda Metro Jaya to the Kejari Jaksel for the handover. Roy was only seen wearing a detainee’s vest upon arrival at the Kejari Jaksel, and he was also seen wearing red cable ties. “Earlier, there was an attempt at force by Polda Metro Jaya investigators to put a detainee’s vest on him. This is a violation, because there is not a single law, neither the KUHP nor the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), that requires wearing a detainee’s vest during the handover process,” said Khozinudin. Khozinudin also brought up the defamation and slander case involving former Vice President Jusuf Kalla (JK) that implicated Silfester Matutina, noting that Silfester has yet to be taken into custody. “The one with criminal status is Silfester Matutina. Because Silfester Matutina’s case has permanent legal force and should have been executed by the South Jakarta District Attorney’s Office. That is what should be subject to coercive measures,” he said. “And earlier there was a debate because the police consider wearing a detainee’s vest to be part of the Police SOP,” he added. Meanwhile, Polda Metro Jaya affirmed its commitment to upholding human rights and the humanitarian aspect towards Roy and Tifa as suspects in this case. Polda Metro Jaya’s Head of Public Relations, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, clarified public opinion while responding to accusations of oppressive actions in the coercive measures taken by investigators. “The Indonesian National Police is not anti-criticism and we are grateful for the input provided. However, we need to clarify to the public that the entire legal process carried out by investigators is actually highly respectful of human rights,” Budi said in Jakarta on Monday. He emphasised that the fulfilment of human rights is implemented through a mandatory procedure of a thorough health examination, both physical and psychological, for every suspect to be detained. “This medical step is carried out at the Kramat Jati Police Hospital to detect whether a suspect has any congenital or infectious diseases before they join other detainees,” Budi said.