Hammam Izzuddin, Jakarta – Chairperson of the Criminal Law Study Center at Trisakti University, Maria Silvya E. Wangga, believes that the presence of dozens of Indonesian Military (TNI) soldiers at the Jakarta Metro Police headquarters could potentially be categorized as an obstruction of justice.
The military personnel were allegedly demanding the release of evidence seized by the Jakarta Metro Police's Special Crimes Directorate in a case involving Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes Febrie Adriansyah, who has recently stepped down from his position.
"If the military came to the Metro Police to demand evidence, this is not within the TNI's jurisdiction, unless the case involves military justice or connectivity," Maria said when contacted on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
Maria emphasized that the authority to manage, confiscate, and request evidence in criminal cases rests solely with police investigators. However, she noted that if the deployment of TNI personnel was intended purely for routine inter-agency coordination, the action could still be considered normal.
Obstruction of an investigation is regulated under Article 21 of the Anti-Corruption Law. According to Maria, this article requires proof of intent to directly or indirectly prevent, obstruct, or hinder the investigation, prosecution, or trial of defendants or witnesses in corruption cases.
Furthermore, Article 282 of the National Criminal Code stipulates that anyone who hides a criminal or assists them in evading investigation, prosecution, or the execution of a judicial sentence can face prosecution. However, the Criminal Code provides an exemption if the act is committed to protect immediate family members, including parents, children, siblings, spouses, and even former spouses.
Maria also pointed to the presence of dozens of TNI soldiers guarding Febrie Adriansyah's residence on Jalan Radio I in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. In her view, this surveillance could still fall within the official scope of duties mandated by Presidential Regulation No. 66/2025.
"If the TNI personnel are only providing passive security to ensure the physical safety of personnel and are not interfering with investigators during official searches, then this action cannot be categorized as an obstruction of justice," she said.
In the early hours of Thursday, July 9, 2026, dozens of TNI personnel were spotted at the Jakarta Metro Police's Special Crimes Directorate. According to information obtained by Tempo and confirmed by two high-ranking National Police officials, the deployment was led by Brigadier General Wahyo Yuniartoto, Director C of the TNI Strategic Intelligence Agency (Bais). Wahyo previously served as an aide-de-camp to President Prabowo Subianto in 2024.
Alongside Wahyo, Brigadier General Anggiat Napitupulu from the Forest Area Enforcement Task Force (Satgas PKH) was also reportedly present at the police headquarters, accompanied by 10 armed, uniformed TNI soldiers and five plainclothes officials from the Attorney General's Office. However, the military top brass denied the reports. "I have checked, and that information is incorrect," said Brigadier General Muhammad Nas, head of the TNI Public Information Center.
Inspector General Totok Suharyanto, head of the National Police's Financial Transactions and Crime Recovery Division, stated that the ongoing probe covers three cases: alleged money laundering and bribery in the PT Asabri scandal, alleged corruption in a coal supply chain that triggered a Sumatra-wide blackout, and suspected graft at state-owned steelmaker PT Krakatau Steel.
"We are moving forward with law enforcement, currently utilizing a joint-investigation scheme," Totok said in Cipete, South Jakarta, on Wednesday, July 8, 2026.
Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/2113131/did-the-military-obstruct-justice-at-metro-polic