South Jakarta Court Partially Grants Roy Suryo's Pretrial Motion

The South Jakarta District Court has partially granted a pretrial motion filed by Roy Suryo, declaring the search, arrest, and detention of the former minister in a defamation case against former President Joko Widodo as unlawful. The ruling was read by sole judge I Ketut Darpawan during a hearing on Tuesday (7/7/2026). The respondent in the case is the Metro Jaya Regional Police.

“Granting the petitioner’s pretrial motion in part. Declaring the search conducted by the respondent against the petitioner based on search warrant number SP.Dah.Rumah.Tap/373/VI/Res.1.24./2026/Ditreskrimum/Polda Metro Jaya dated 18 June 2026 is unlawful. Declaring the arrest conducted by the respondent against the petitioner based on arrest warrant number SP.Kap/703/VI/Res.1.14./2026/Ditreskrimum/Polda Metro Jaya dated 19 June 2026 is unlawful. Declaring the detention of the petitioner based on detention warrant number SP.Han/458/VI/Res.1.14/2026/Ditreskrimum/Polda Metro Jaya dated 19 June 2026 is unlawful,” the judge stated.

The judge noted that the search conducted by the Metro Jaya Police was part of an investigation that began in 2025, and that the applicable procedural law was the old Criminal Procedure Code. The judge observed that Roy Suryo had been cooperative throughout the process and that there were procedural defects in the search and arrest. The judge also stated that Suryo had complied with mandatory reporting requirements since being named a suspect, making the subsequent detention unlawful.

However, the judge emphasised that this ruling does not render the entire investigation file invalid. “It does not automatically invalidate the entire investigation file,” the judge said. The decision specifically addresses the legality of the search, arrest, and detention actions.

Roy Suryo had filed the pretrial motion challenging the search of his residence in the case involving alleged defamation regarding Joko Widodo’s diplomas. He requested that the South Jakarta District Court declare the search unlawful. During the hearing on 29 June, Suryo’s legal counsel, Refly Harun, argued that the search was illegal because it was not authorised by the chief of the local district court.

The petition sought to have the search, arrest, and detention declared unlawful, the investigation file invalidated, and the relevant warrants cancelled. It also requested the restoration of Suryo’s dignity and reputation. Police had previously completed the investigation into both Roy Suryo and Dr Tifa, transferring their case files to the South Jakarta Prosecutor’s Office. Prosecutors decided not to detain either individual. While Tifa’s case file has been transferred to the East Jakarta District Court and her initial trial has commenced, Suryo’s trial was pending the outcome of this pretrial hearing.