Did Jakarta Protest Mass Arrest Violate Criminal Procedure Code?

The Jakarta Metropolitan Police have been accused of breaching the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) by conducting mass arrests ahead of a protest in Central Jakarta on August 27, 2026. The Advocacy Team for Democracy (TAUD) claims the police's actions were procedurally unlawful as they used arbitrary coercion under the guise of security measures. This claim is based on baseless arrests, confiscations, and searches conducted by the police in the days leading up to and on the day of the protest.

TAUD identified arbitrary police action against the arrested individuals, as they were apprehended as witnesses without proper summons and not treated as if they were presumed innocent. The group believes that even though the arrested were probed as witnesses, they still had to follow legal procedures. The Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) had arrested 65 people ahead of the demonstration at the Parliament Complex in Central Jakarta on the same day, stating that the arrests were part of a preventive measure.

The police apprehended individuals allegedly linked to the Anarchist group and others suspected of manipulating cyber data.

Further investigation found that 63 of the arrested were seized with various items, including alcohol, weapons, drugs, and banners promoting a charity event for East Nusa Tenggara. Police Director Iman Imanuddin stated that the police had mapped and monitored the community groups and students suspected of being affiliated with the Anarchist group, who were consolidating to support the Pati community protest. The main issue currently emerging in the police's findings is the ratification of the Asset Forfeiture Bill.