September 18, 2025
JAKARTA – The Central Java Police have pledged to involve the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) in their investigation of the suspicious death of Iko Juliant Junior, a University of Semarang (Unnes) law student who died after participating in an anti-government protest last month.
Central Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Artanto said the involvement of the LPSK is intended to ensure that the investigation remains objective and transparent, while also providing protection for witnesses and Iko’s family.
“We urge the public and all parties to be patient and to trust the legal process. With the involvement of an external body like the LPSK, we hope the investigation results will be truly objective, transparent and legally accountable,” he said on Tuesday.
Nineteen-year-old Iko Juliant Junior was among 10 people killed during a week of unrest and nationwide protests held between Aug. 25 and Sept. 2, sparked by public outrage over police brutality and the House of Representatives’ lavish allowances.
According to his family, Iko left home around 11 p.m. on Aug. 30 to pick up several friends who had been arrested during a demonstration in front of the Central Java Police Headquarters in Semarang.
At around 3 a.m. the following morning, Iko and a friend, Ilham, were taken by police officers to Dr. Kariadi Central General Hospital in Semarang. Iko was found to have suffered severe trauma, including damage to his spleen, and underwent emergency surgery. He died just a few hours later.
Medical personnel said Iko had sustained multiple injuries, including blunt force trauma to his torso, facial bruises and a fractured jaw. The cause of death was listed as cardiac failure and internal bleeding in the abdominal area.
Read also: Violent crackdown on protests turns deadly
The Central Java Police, however, claimed that Iko and Ilham were involved in a motorcycle accident on Jl. Veteran, not far from the Central Java Police Headquarters. According to their account, the two were riding at high speed when they collided with another motorcycle. Police officers patrolling the area following the protests reportedly found the pair and rushed them to the hospital.
However, the Unnes Law Alumni Legal Aid Center (PBH IKA FH Unnes), which is representing Iko’s family, said they found several inconsistencies in the police’s account of the incident.
Naufal Sebastian, a representative from the legal aid center, pointed out that the two people reportedly involved in the motorcycle collision with Iko and Ilham, identified only as Vicky and Aziz, were brought to Dr. Kariadi Hospital roughly two hours after Iko and Ilham had arrived.
“There was a two-hour gap. This raises serious questions, were Vicky and Aziz actually involved in the same incident, or were they possibly picked up during the protest crackdown and later presented as if all four had been in the same accident?” he said on Monday as quoted by Kompas.id.
He also noted that police have not disclosed the full identities of Vicky and Aziz, making it difficult for the legal team to verify their statements or conduct independent inquiries. Meanwhile, Ilham, Iko’s friend who survived the incident, reportedly remains traumatized and unable to recall the full details of what happened.
According to Naufal, his team has found a witness who claimed that Iko and Ilham were struck by a rock or another object while riding their motorcycle, which may have caused the crash.
Iko’s family also recounted that after his operation, Iko repeatedly mumbled, “Please have mercy, sir. Don’t beat me anymore,” while in a delirious state.
Central Java Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Artanto stated that investigators have conducted a thorough examination of the crime scene using advanced 3D laser scanning technology to analyze Iko’s alleged traffic accident.
He added that the police have secured sufficient evidence, including CCTV footage from the vicinity of the incident. He also revealed plans to hold a reconstruction of the incident soon, which will involve LPSK representatives and eyewitnesses to create a complete and accurate account of what transpired.
“We conducted these efforts to ensure that every stage of the investigation is scientifically sound and not based on mere assumptions,” Artanto said.
Earlier this month, the United Nations called for investigations into the alleged use of disproportionate force by authorities during the weeklong protests and unrest across Indonesia.
Read also: UN urges investigations over deadly Indonesia protests
The UN Human Rights Office urged prompt, thorough and transparent inquiries into “all alleged violations of international human rights law, including those related to the use of force”.