TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A demonstration by the National Legal Intellectual Network (Jaringan Intelektual Hukum Nasional or JIHN) outside Indonesia’s Attorney General’s Office in South Jakarta turned chaotic on Wednesday afternoon, July 22, 2026, after protesters set a banner on fire, triggering clashes with security personnel.
The rally initially proceeded peacefully, with protesters delivering speeches calling for stronger law enforcement in the case involving former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah.
The situation escalated when protesters burned a banner near the protest area.
“This is the fire of our resistance, comrades,” one of the speakers said.
Police officers guarding the building immediately extinguished the fire, causing smoke to spread around the area. Tensions then rose, with protesters and security personnel engaging in several confrontations.
Protesters Demand Febrie’s Arrest
During the rally, protesters demanded that authorities immediately arrest and detain Febrie, who has been named a suspect in a corruption investigation linked to state insurer PT Asabri.
“Arrest Febrie Adriansyah,” one of the speakers said.
The protesters questioned why Febrie had not been detained despite what they claimed was sufficient evidence of alleged criminal involvement.
“How far has the Febrie Adriansyah case progressed? What has the Attorney General’s Office done in investigating its former leader?” another speaker said, while questioning Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin’s handling of the case.
Febrie was previously named a suspect by the Indonesian National Police’s Corruption Eradication Task Force (Kortastipidkor Polri) in connection with alleged corruption related to the handling of the PT Asabri case.
Police conducted searches at dozens of locations linked to the PT Asabri investigation and two other cases on July 8-9, 2026. The investigation was later transferred to the Attorney General’s Office.
One of the locations searched was Febrie’s house in Sentul, Bogor. Police said they seized assets worth around Rp476 billion (approximately US$29 million) from a safe at the property.
“A locked safe was found, and when opened it contained seven suitcases,” Kortastipidkor chief Inspector General Totok Suharyanto said.
The suitcases allegedly contained 74 kilograms of gold and cash totaling US$4.77 million, S$14.08 million, and Rp100 million.
Police also confiscated documents and personal items, including family photographs. However, authorities said the Sentul property was not included in Febrie’s State Officials’ Wealth Report (LHKPN).
Febrie’s Lawyer Rejects Allegations
Febrie’s lawyer, Hotman Paris Hutapea, rejected the allegations against his client and questioned the process of naming Febrie a suspect.
Hotman claimed police investigators did not seek approval from President Prabowo Subianto before naming Febrie a suspect in the PT Asabri case.
“Imagine the president’s pride suddenly being criminalized without even bidding farewell to the president,” Hotman said on Friday, July 18, 2026.
He also argued that the process violated the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) because Febrie was allegedly not summoned or questioned before being declared a suspect.
Hotman said Febrie had contributed significantly during his tenure as Jampidsus and as chief executor of the Forest Area Regulation Task Force (Satgas PKH), including efforts that resulted in the recovery of state funds.
He claimed the task force recovered Rp300 trillion in non-tax state revenue within one year and another Rp130 trillion through state loss recovery.
“It’s already Rp430 trillion returned, admired by the president,” Hotman said.
Attorney General’s Office Forms Investigation Team
The Attorney General’s Office has formed a special team consisting of nine senior prosecutors to handle the case.
The team has questioned Febrie as a suspect on Friday, July 17, 2026.
“Yes, they have started working,” Head of the Attorney General’s Office Legal Information Center Anang Supriatna said on Monday, July 20, 2026.
However, Anang declined to disclose details of the questioning or provide an update on the investigation’s progress after the team began its work.
Jihan Ristiyanti contributed to the writing of this article.
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