Shock Ruling: Judge Revokes Piche Kota's Suspect Status, Detention Declared Unlawful

The Atambua District Court in East Nusa Tenggara has partially granted a pre-trial motion filed by Petrus Yohanes Debrito Armando Djaga Kota, known as Piche Kota. In its ruling, the judge declared the suspect designation against Piche unlawful and null and void. Based on the ruling listed in the Atambua District Court’s Case Tracking Information System, the judge stated that the Suspect Determination Decree Number S.Tap/08/II/2026/Reskrim dated 19 February 2026, issued by investigators, was unlawful and null and void. The panel of judges also annulled all detention actions against Piche. The ruling covers the Detention Order Number SP.Han/03/III/2026/Reskrim dated 1 March 2026, the Extended Detention Order Number SP.Han.Lanjutan/03-A/III/2026/Reskrim dated 10 March 2026, and the Detention Extension Order Number SP.Panjang.Han/JPU/03-A/III/2026/Reskrim dated 16 March 2026. In its considerations, the judge also stated that the respondent’s action of delaying the handling of the case without a valid reason, constituting an undue delay against the petitioner, was an unlawful act. Consequently, all derivative letters, decisions, administrative actions, and legal actions related to the suspect designation, detention, and delay in handling the case against Piche were declared unlawful and null and void. The panel of judges further ordered the respondent to restore Piche’s rights, capacity, standing, and dignity to their original state. However, the judge did not grant the entire petition. The ruling stated that the pre-trial motion was partially granted, while the remainder was rejected. The case stems from allegations of sexual abuse against a high school student in Belu Regency, which led the Belu Police’s Women and Children Protection Unit to name Piche Kota, along with two other men, Roy Mali and Rivan, as suspects.