Three suspects in GMS Bantul worship dispersal case not yet detained, here's why
The Yogyakarta Regional Police (Polda DIY) have named three suspects in the case of the dispersal of a worship service at the Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS) in Sewon, Bantul, on 24 May. However, the three suspects have not yet been detained, and Polda DIY has explained the reasons.
Head of Public Relations of Polda DIY, Commissioner Ihsan, explained that after announcing the naming of the three suspects on Friday (14/8), his office immediately sent summons letters to the three individuals. According to him, the three have complied with the summons, although he did not specify when.
“Investigators have named three suspects, then they were summoned as suspects, and yesterday the three suspects attended. This means they are cooperative, all three attended to be examined as suspects,” Ihsan explained when met at the Polda DIY headquarters on Wednesday (26/8/2026).
However, after the summons as suspects, Ihsan said investigators assessed that the suspects were cooperative. For that reason, his office considers that detention of the three suspects will not yet be carried out.
Ihsan stressed, however, that the examination of the three suspects and the handling of the case is continuing. Ihsan also did not specify when the three suspects would be detained.
“Their attendance is a sign that they are cooperative, so of course investigators have considerations based on the Criminal Code. One of them is that the three have been cooperative during examination as witnesses and as suspects, as assessed by investigators, so detention has not yet been carried out,” he said.
“That (the decision not to detain the three suspects) is purely the subjective assessment of the investigators. But once again, this case is continuing to progress, continuing to progress, please also monitor us so that it can continue to progress all the way to court,” Ihsan stressed.
Previously, Polda DIY named three suspects in the case of the dispersal of the worship service at Gereja Misi Sejahtera (GMS). Ihsan said the naming of suspects was carried out based on the results of a case review by investigators from the Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of Polda DIY. At least 32 witnesses have been examined during the investigation process.
“Investigators from Ditreskrimum Polda DIY have named three people as suspects, with the initials D (47), BS (54), and AH (55),” Ihsan said in his statement on Friday (14/8) evening.
Even so, Ihsan has not yet detailed the role of each suspect.
“Investigators have also sent official summons letters to the three suspects. We expect the suspects to be cooperative by complying with the investigators’ summons and undergoing the ongoing legal process,” he said.
The suspects are charged with alleged criminal offences against religious life or beliefs and places of worship as referred to in Article 303 paragraph (3) or Article 303 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.
For information, the case began when a crowd dispersed a worship service at GMS Bantul on Sunday (24/5). The church said the dispersal of the worship service was carried out with intimidation and threats.
Video of the dispersal action also went viral on social media. GMS Central Public Relations, Josiah Michael, regretted the dispersal of the worship service accompanied by intimidation and threats against the congregation in Bantul on Sunday (24/5).
“We deeply regret the incident of the dispersal of the worship service accompanied by alleged acts of intimidation and threats, both physical and verbal, from a group of irresponsible individuals against our brothers and sisters of GMS Bantul,” said GMS Central Public Relations, Josiah Michael, in his statement to journalists on Tuesday (26/5/2026).
“This incident has left wounds and trauma on the congregation, especially the children,” he said.