Tuesday, 03 November 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The investigation into the death of Winda Lorenza Gowasa, which has now been ongoing for three months, continues to attract criticism. Legal aid organisation Lembaga Bantuan Hukum (LBH) Medan has called on the Indonesian National Police (Polri) to provide the victim's family with legal certainty and review the way the case has been handled by the Medan Police.
According to LBH Medan, the investigation so far has failed to provide Winda Lorenza's family or the wider community in Medan, North Sumatra, with the clarity and justice they need. The organisation has also raised concerns that Medan Police Chief Police Commissioner Jean Calvin Simanjuntak has not handled the legal process and the pursuit of justice in the case appropriately.The case received renewed public attention after the victim's family, accompanied by their legal team, staged a protest outside Medan Police Headquarters on Friday, 30 October 2026. Winda's mother, father and younger siblings took part in the demonstration to express their dissatisfaction with the progress of the investigation into her death.
During the protest, the family brought a white coffin as a symbol of their disappointment and opposition to the way the case had been handled by the Medan Police Chief and his officers. They also called on the police to provide an explanation and legal certainty regarding the cause of Winda's death.Irvan explained that LBH Medan had previously been involved in the external review team established to examine Winda's case. Through its involvement, the organisation had compiled several findings and submitted more than ten recommendations aimed at ensuring a transparent and accountable investigation.
"It must be recalled that LBH Medan has already informed the public of more than ten findings and recommendations concerning Winda's case. These include, in particular, an exhumation conducted by an independent doctor with no links to the police, as well as forensic examinations of Winda's two mobile phones, CCTV footage and other evidence," Irvan said in an official statement on Monday, 2 November 2026.One of the key recommendations is to exhume Winda's body, involving an independent doctor who has no affiliation with the Indonesian police. LBH Medan has also urged investigators to examine the two mobile phones belonging to the deceased and analyse recordings from closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.
In LBH Medan's view, examining the available evidence and reviewing relevant witness statements are essential to reconstructing the events leading up to Winda's death. The organisation maintains that investigators must follow up all its recommendations to ensure that the investigation leaves no unanswered questions for the bereaved family.
Irvan stressed that LBH Medan did not believe Winda's death should be treated solely as a suicide. Based on the findings presented by the organisation, he said there were grounds to suspect that the case involved possible criminal elements.
"This is legally connected to the investigation report (LHP) that has already been issued, the formal escalation of Winda's case to the investigation stage, and the submission of the notification of the commencement of an investigation (SPDP) to the Medan District Prosecutor's Office. The suspected offences concern homicide and/or inducing, assisting or providing the means for someone to take their own life, as stipulated under Article 485 in conjunction with Article 462 of the Criminal Code," Irvan added.LBH Medan considers the formal escalation of the case to the investigation stage and the submission of the notification of the commencement of an investigation (SPDP) to the Medan District Prosecutor's Office to be significant developments.
Nevertheless, the suspected offences relating to Winda's death must still be established through a proper investigation and the applicable legal procedures. Responsibility for the incident must be determined on the basis of credible evidence and legally accountable investigative findings.LBH Medan has also placed the handling of the case within the broader context of human rights protection. The organisation suspects that both Winda's death and the problems surrounding the legal investigation may conflict with the principles enshrined in the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia, Law No. 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
In response to the findings and developments in the case, LBH Medan has put forward three specific demands to the leadership of the Indonesian National Police.
First, the organisation has called on the National Police Chief (Kapolri) to remove Medan Police Chief Police Commissioner Jean Calvin Simanjuntak from his post.Second, LBH Medan has demanded that the Head of the Professional and Security Division (Divisi Profesi dan Pengamanan – Propam) at the Indonesian National Police Headquarters investigate the Medan Police Chief and the officers involved in handling Winda's case. The organisation considers this review necessary to assess the conduct of those responsible and ensure that the investigation complies with the applicable legal provisions.
Third, LBH Medan has urged the North Sumatra Police Chief to take immediate action to ensure legal certainty and justice for Winda Lorenza's family and the wider community.LBH Medan hopes that the Indonesian National Police leadership will examine all three demands objectively and transparently before taking the necessary steps. The organisation has also insisted that investigators resolve the case on the basis of evidence, scientific examinations and the applicable legal procedures.
For Winda's family, establishing the cause of her death and fully uncovering the circumstances surrounding the incident are essential to securing justice. For the wider public, meanwhile, transparent and accountable handling of the case is equally important in maintaining confidence in law enforcement authorities.As of the publication of LBH Medan's statement on 2 November 2026, the demands had been directed to the relevant police leadership and supported by the victim's family and their legal team. The information available to the editorial team did not yet include an official response from Medan Police Headquarters or a statement from the Medan Police Chief addressing LBH Medan's allegations and demands. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Ahmad Zulfikar | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
