West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office Denies Intimidating Student Protesters

The West Sumatra High Prosecutor's Office has strongly refuted claims that it intimidated a student in Padang. Agustinus Hanung Widyatmaka, the Assistant Intelijen of the office, explained that their visit to the student on Sunday night was misunderstood. "There was no intimidation; we visited the student to investigate the incident of the fence destruction at the High Prosecutor's Office during a protest last week," Agustinus stated in Padang on Monday.

He detailed that the protest in front of the office had become heated, leading to the fence being torn down. The office had reported the damage to the police and simultaneously conducted an internal investigation. While several names were identified as potentially involved in the fence destruction, only one student had been confirmed and visited. Agustinus asserted that the approach was transparent, with the student's parents and a local community official present. The student and their parents were then invited to the office.

Agustinus reiterated that no intimidation occurred during the student's journey to or stay at the office. The meeting was open, not a closed interrogation. The student was even allowed into the office of the Head Prosecutor. The office firmly denied the intimidation accusations and negative narratives circulating on social media. After confirming the student's participation in the protest and involvement in the fence damage, the student was released after signing a statement.

The office hopes the incident serves as a lesson, urging that protests be conducted orderly and peacefully. Agustinus stressed that the office is open to demonstrations, viewing them as a source of feedback and criticism for performance evaluation.