What Is Exhumation? The Term as Sutrimo's Body Undergoes Second Autopsy
The exhumation of Sutrimo’s body in Wlahar Village, Wangon District, Banyumas Regency, is scheduled to take place today. What is exhumation, the term that has emerged during the re-autopsy process of Sutrimo’s body?
According to the book ‘Mengenal Istilah-istilah Penting Hukum Acara Pidana’ by Surjasni, Rudy Indrawan and others, exhumation is the act of digging up a buried body for examination purposes, such as an autopsy or other forensic examination. Exhumation is carried out to seek evidence or clarity regarding the cause of death or the identity of a victim in the course of a criminal investigation.
This action is a special investigation that requires permission or an order from authorised officials such as investigators, prosecutors or judges, as it concerns the sensitivity of the family and social or religious norms. Exhumation is carried out when initial examinations, such as an external post-mortem, are insufficient or when new allegations arise.
Exhumation is conducted to seek material truth in cases of unnatural death, above the norm of respect for the deceased. However, the process must be carried out carefully, proportionately and with respect for the family’s feelings.
In its application in Indonesia, exhumation was previously regulated under Article 135 of Law No. 8/1981 on the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), but is now regulated under Article 51 of Law No. 20 of 2025 on the new Criminal Procedure Code.
The following is the text of Article 51 of the new Criminal Procedure Code:
In the event that, for the interests of justice, an investigator needs to exhume a body, this shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions referred to in Article 49 paragraph (2) and Article 50 paragraph (1).
Under Article 49 paragraph (1) of the new Criminal Procedure Code, investigators are authorised to request statements from forensic medical experts or doctors and other experts for the interests of justice in handling victims of injury, poisoning or death suspected to have resulted from a criminal act.
The following is the text of Article 49 paragraph (1) of the new Criminal Procedure Code:
In the event that an investigator, for the interests of justice, handles a victim of injury, poisoning or death suspected to have resulted from a criminal act, the investigator is authorised to request statements from forensic medical experts or doctors and/or other experts.
Furthermore, in the exhumation process as regulated under Article 50 of the new Criminal Procedure Code, the investigator must notify the victim’s family. If the family objects, the investigator must explain the purpose of the exhumation and may request a ruling from the court.
The following is the text of Article 50 of the new Criminal Procedure Code:
In the event that, for evidentiary purposes, an autopsy of a body is unavoidable, the investigator must first notify the victim’s family of the autopsy.
In the event that the victim’s family objects, the investigator must clearly explain the intent and purpose of the autopsy to the family.
In the event that the victim’s family objects as referred to in paragraph (2), or the family or parties who need to be notified cannot be found, the investigator may request a ruling from the district court after the autopsy has been carried out.
Exhumation in the Re-Autopsy Process of Sutrimo
The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) has scheduled the exhumation of Sutrimo’s body for today, Wednesday, 12 August 2026. The exhumation process is being carried out at the public cemetery in Wlahar Village, Wangon District, Banyumas Regency this morning.
‘(The exhumation) is on schedule, Wednesday 12 August 2026 at 10 am this morning,’ said the Head of Public Relations of Polda Metro Jaya, Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto, in his statement on Wednesday (12/8/2026).
Senior Commissioner Budi Hermanto said the exhumation process is being carried out in cooperation with and supported by the Central Java Regional Police (Polda Jateng) and the Banyumas Resort Police (Polresta Banyumas).
‘It is led by the Chair of the Indonesian Association of Forensic and Medicolegal Doctors (PDFMI), Brigadier General Dr Hastry and Professor Dr Yudi,’ he added.
Budi Hermanto added that in this activity there are several stages to be carried out by medical personnel, including the examination of the body.
‘Stages: exhumation, external examination, internal examination,’ he added.
Family Not Present
The family has decided not to witness the exhumation of Sutrimo’s grave directly.
‘I am also a parent. Seeing a child slip and fall makes us tremble. Especially in a situation like this, it is certainly not an easy thing,’ said the family’s legal representative, Aan Rohaeni, when met by journalists at the cemetery complex, as reported by detikJateng on Tuesday (11/8/2026) afternoon.
Aan confirmed that Sutrimo’s family is prepared and has chosen to fully entrust the process to law enforcement officials. The family also stated that they will not object to the exhumation process or the results obtained from the examination of Sutrimo’s body.
‘In principle, the family is now resolute, just waiting for the results of the exhumation. The family has given a statement that they will not object or anything,’ he said.
It is known that Sutrimo was found unconscious on Thursday (23/7/2026). The victim was then taken by ambulance to Muhammadiyah Taman Puring Hospital and was pronounced dead.
Based on circulating information, the victim was found with foaming at the mouth. The victim is said to have been the Head of Household Affairs (Karumga) for former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) at the Attorney General’s Office, Febrie Adriansyah. However, the police are still conducting further investigations regarding the identity and background of the victim.