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🇮🇩 Indonesia /Crime & Justice

Nadiem Makarim Questions Different Treatment in Suspect Detentions

From Tempo · () Indonesian

Translated from Indonesian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former Indonesian Minister Nadiem Makarim questioned the different treatment of former Deputy Attorney General Febrie Adriansyah, who was not handcuffed or put in a detainee vest upon being named a suspect.
  • Makarim contrasted this with his own experience, stating he was detained without such leniency.
  • The Attorney General's Office cited haste and late timing for Febrie's lack of vest, while the KPK confirmed he later wore one during registration.

Former Indonesian Education Minister Nadiem Makarim has publicly questioned the preferential treatment reportedly given to former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah. Adriansyah was taken to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) detention center without handcuffs or a detainee vest after being named a suspect in an alleged money laundering case.

For those of us who have experienced criminalization, there is no such thing as not wearing a detainee vest or being unhandcuffed.

— Nadiem MakarimThe former minister contrasted his own arrest experience with that of Febrie Adriansyah.

Makarim drew a stark comparison to his own experience when he was named a suspect by the Attorney General's Office (AGO). "For those of us who have experienced criminalization, there is no such thing as not wearing a detainee vest or being unhandcuffed," Makarim told reporters on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, before an appeal hearing at the Jakarta High Court. He emphasized that his detention was immediate and did not allow for media interviews during the arrest process.

Febrie Adriansyah was detained by the AGO in connection with an alleged money laundering case linked to state insurer PT Asabri. He arrived at the KPK headquarters on Friday night, July 24, 2026. Observations noted he was not wearing the AGO's standard pink detainee vest. A prosecutor accompanying him responded vaguely to inquiries, and Febrie himself pointed to his batik shirt, indicating he was not wearing the vest.

Because it was rushed and it was already late.

— Rudi MargonoThe AGO Deputy Attorney General for Oversight explained the reason for Febrie Adriansyah not wearing a detainee vest.

AGO Deputy Attorney General for Oversight, Rudi Margono, later explained that the lack of a vest was due to the late hour and the hurried nature of the process. However, the KPK spokesperson, Budi Prasetyo, stated on Monday, July 27, that Febrie did wear a detainee vest during the registration process at the KPK detention facility. Prasetyo asserted that this procedure indicated Febrie received no special treatment and that the same rules apply to all KPK detainees.

Regarding the use of the detainee vest, it was implemented when FA completed registration at the KPK detention center.

— Budi PrasetyoThe KPK spokesperson confirmed that Febrie Adriansyah later wore a detainee vest during the registration process.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Tempo in Indonesian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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