TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - With a trembling voice, Iyen Rumaningsih describes the condition of her 24-year-old son, Very Kurnia Kusumah, who is currently detained at the Indonesia's West Java Regional Police headquarters.
Police have accused Very of participating in riots during demonstrations in Bandung at the end of August 2025, but his family insists that he is a victim of wrongful arrest.
According to Iyen, Very works daily at a water refill station. He was arrested on the night of Saturday, August 30, 2025, and Iyen was only able to visit him two days later.
She found him in a pitiful state, with bruises on his face, bleeding eyes, and red marks on his wrists that appeared to be caused by electric shocks.
“I saw my son constantly holding his reddened wrists,” she said when met in Bandung on September 22, 2025.
Very reportedly told his mother that he was tortured every day while in detention. “My son whispered that he was beaten, kicked, and slapped every day,” Iyen said.
Iyen insists that Very was not part of the demonstration when arrested. At the time, he was buying cigarettes at a kiosk on Jalan Dipatiukur in Bandung when armed officers ambushed him and took him to the police headquarters.
“He confessed to all of the police’s accusations because he could not withstand the pressure and violent intimidation,” she said.
This account was corroborated by Very’s friend, Deni Muhammad. The two had planned to go to a food stall on Jalan Dipatiukur using a motorcycle
Due to heavy traffic, they stopped in a parking area, and Very got off to buy cigarettes and exchange small change for parking fees.
Deni later saw a group of officers chasing someone on Jalan Japati in black uniforms. He did not see Very again and was unable to reach him by phone.
Very’s sibling, Pebbie, added that when she visited him in detention, Very described being ambushed at gunpoint near Graha Merah Putih Telkom while carrying only his cellphone and wallet. Police, however, claim he was arrested with a stone as evidence.
According to Pebbie, Very was forced to admit involvement in the riots after enduring repeated torture, including electric shocks.
The West Java Regional Police have identified 42 individuals as suspects in vandalism and incitement during the protests from August 29 to September 1, 2025, including Very, who is accused of participating in the destruction and burning of public facilities.
The Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team, representing Very’s family, described the case as a form of torture and has submitted letters to the National Commission on Human Rights, the National Commission on Violence Against Women, and the National Police Commission requesting an investigation.
Deti Sopandi, a representative of the advocacy team, stated that Very is not the only demonstrator to experience torture. The actions of the police, he added, violated Law No. 5 of 1998 on the Elimination of Torture.
“We demand that the relevant institutions immediately form a fact-finding team and investigate the West Java Regional Police headquarters,” said Deti.
Deti also noted that around 1,500 demonstrators were detained between August 29 and September 1, 2025. The arrests were carried out arbitrarily and involved legal violations, with families and advocacy groups hindered from accessing the detainees or providing legal aid.
The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) of Bandung reported that many arrested demonstrators were denied the right to choose their legal counsel. During arrests and interrogations, LBH Bandung’s access to provide legal assistance was restricted.
“They arbitrarily violate the Criminal Procedure Code and Law Number 16 of 2011 concerning Legal Aid by stating that LBH Bandung can only assist after the examination is completed,” said Raffi, Head of Advocacy and Network Division of LBH Bandung.
The advocacy team continues to face obstacles in providing legal services. On September 24, 2025, the Bandung Melawan Advocacy Team reported the West Java Regional Police to the West Java Ombudsman for alleged violations of public services, particularly regarding access to information and legal aid for detained demonstrators.
The West Java Regional Police, through Chief of Public Relations Commissioner Hendra Rochmawan, denied allegations of torture.
“That is not true. During detention at the police station, we provided legal aid and treated all detainees in accordance with the standard operating procedures,” he said.
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