Ricki Putra Harahap, Agung Dharma Putra, Jakarta – The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has raised suspicions over the Surabaya District Court's decision to acquit Gregorius Ronald Tannur, the son of a legislator, who was accused of assaulting his girlfriend, Dini Sera Afrianti, leading to her death.
Harli Siregar, Head of the Legal Information Center at the Attorney General's Office, said that the court's ruling was flawed and unsupported, as it did not consider the trial evidence and was based merely on the judges' personal opinions.
"We believe this decision is highly irregular and unjustified. The judges did not apply the law appropriately and ignored the facts presented during the trial, basing their decision on their own reasoning instead," Harli said during a press conference at the Attorney General's Office in South Jakarta on Friday.
Harli expressed disappointment that the court overlooked crucial evidence, including CCTV footage showing the defendant's vehicle running over the victim and forensic reports indicating the victim's cause of death.
He also criticized the court's consideration of Ronald's actions in providing emergency aid to the victim, arguing that such factors should not influence the acquittal, as Ronald had shown malicious intent towards the victim.
"This is a separate issue; it should not be a factor in reducing the defendant's culpability," he added.
In response to the perceived inconsistencies in the ruling, the Attorney General's Office plans to file an appeal. "We will file an appeal with the Supreme Court. We are preparing the administration as we have 14 days from the verdict to file, and we are awaiting a complete copy of the decision to review the judges' considerations," Harli said.
On the same day, the three judges who delivered the acquittal – Erintuah Damanik, Heri Hanindyo, and Mangapul – visited the Surabaya High Court. They declined to comment on the visit, though it is suspected they were there for a review of the controversial verdict.
Erintuah Damanik, the presiding judge, claimed the visit was merely for social reasons and not related to the case. "We came to the Surabaya High Court just for a social visit. Please refer to the court's public relations office for further information," Damanik said.
Bambang Kustopo, the spokesperson for the Surabaya High Court, denied that the judges' visit was related to the verdict. He clarified that judges from various regions in East Java were at the High Court for discussions on retirement ceremonies.
In Surabaya, public reaction to the Surabaya District Court's decision has been intense. Local residents and the Madura Indonesia Alliance (AMI) protested outside the court, criticizing the acquittal of Gregorius Ronald Tannur.
Baihaki Akbar, Chairman of AMI, protested the ruling, questioning why Ronald was acquitted despite clear evidence of the crime. "The court's decision indicates a possible miscarriage of justice, as the victim was brutally run over by the defendant's vehicle. It is unacceptable for Ronald to be declared not guilty," Baihaki said during the protest.
He added that the acquittal undermines the rule of law in Indonesia and announced plans to submit a formal complaint to the Judicial Commission and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), demanding the removal and prosecution of the three judges involved.
In the trial held on July 24, Judge Erintuah Damanik acquitted Ronald, ruling that the prosecution had not proven beyond reasonable doubt the charges of murder or assault. The judge also noted Ronald's attempts to assist the victim as part of the decision to acquit.
"The defendant is not proven to have committed the crimes," Damanik stated in the verdict. "The court acquits the defendant of all charges," he concluded, ordering the immediate release of Ronald from custody.