Sunday, 12 July 2026
JAKARTA | INDATANEWS.COM - The case surrounding the death of 15-year-old MHS from Medan, the son of Lenny Damanik, has once again come under public scrutiny. Legal proceedings against Indonesian Military (TNI) non-commissioned officer Sertu Reza Pahlevi continue to generate controversy, particularly over allegations of a lack of transparency and fairness within the military justice system.
The case, which began with an alleged assault that ultimately resulted in the death of MHS, attracted widespread national attention. Public expectations for justice increased when the case was brought before Military Court I-02. However, recent developments have sparked renewed criticism from the victim's family and their legal representatives.
Irvan Syahputra, S.H., M.H., Director of the Medan Legal Aid Institute (LBH Medan), criticized the appeal verdict, arguing that the victim's family was not provided with adequate information regarding the court's decision. After Military Court I-02 sentenced the defendant to 10 months in prison in October 2025, the Military High Court reportedly upheld the ruling without modification.
"Even more concerning is the allegation that the Military High Court in Medan and the Military Prosecutor's Office in Medan withheld the appeal verdict or failed to notify either the victim's mother, Lenny Damanik, or her legal team from LBH Medan after the panel of judges issued its decision," Irvan said in an official statement on Tuesday, June 23, 2026.
According to Irvan, the appeal ruling, registered under Number 108-K/PMT.I/BDG/AD/XI/2025, was issued on January 22, 2026. However, neither the victim's family nor their attorneys received official notification or a copy of the decision.
He further explained that Lenny Damanik only became aware of the verdict in April 2026 through Military Prosecutor's Office I in Medan after LBH Medan repeatedly sought updates on the case. He argued that such circumstances contradicted Article 144 letters f and g of Indonesia's Criminal Procedure Code, which guarantees victims the right to obtain information regarding case developments and court decisions.
LBH Medan believes the handling of the appeal process significantly affected Lenny Damanik's legal rights. Most notably, she was allegedly deprived of the opportunity to file a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, thereby undermining her right to pursue comprehensive justice.
"Legally, the actions of the Military High Court resulted in Lenny losing her right to file a cassation appeal with the Supreme Court. Furthermore, her fundamental right to justice has been violated. This military judicial process reveals serious issues that raise questions regarding the independence, transparency, and accountability of law enforcement," Irvan stated.
He emphasized that the criticism was based on concrete circumstances. According to LBH Medan, the investigation conducted by Denpom I/5 Medan lacked transparency and took an extended period to complete. The Military Prosecutor's Office's demand for only one year of imprisonment also drew criticism, considering the case involved the death of a child.
Irvan also questioned the prolonged timeline of the case. The identity of the alleged perpetrator was reportedly disclosed approximately eight months after the incident, while court proceedings commenced about seven months later.
In addition, the defendant was not placed in pretrial detention during the legal process because authorities reportedly stated that he was still required by his military unit. For the victim's family, such justification was difficult to accept given the severity of the offense.
"This situation raises serious concerns about whether the military institution prioritizes law enforcement and justice for victims over internal institutional interests," he said.
LBH Medan further documented several measures during the trial that it described as discriminatory. These included searches of personal belongings belonging to family members and legal counsel, as well as restrictions on taking photographs and videos during court proceedings.
In response to the alleged irregularities, Lenny Damanik and a coalition of civil society organizations comprising LBH Medan, KontraS, Imparsial, and YLBHI officially submitted complaints to several state institutions. These include the Judicial Commission, the Supervisory Body of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Indonesia, the Indonesian Child Protection Commission (KPAI), and the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia.
The complaints seek a comprehensive review of the judicial process, covering both the conduct of judges at the trial and appellate levels as well as alleged administrative shortcomings that, according to the complainants, harmed the interests of the victim and his family.
"This effort is intended to secure justice for the death of MHS and to ensure that judicial proceedings are conducted fairly, transparently, and accountably," Irvan said.
LBH Medan maintains that several aspects of the proceedings may have violated various legal provisions, including Article 28D Paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution, Article 26 of Law No. 12 of 2005 concerning the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), Article 4 of Law No. 48 of 2009 on Judicial Power, and provisions contained in Indonesia's Witness and Victim Protection Law.
According to the organization, the principles of simple, swift, and low-cost judicial proceedings were not reflected in this case, particularly given the lengthy legal process involving the death of a child.
"Therefore, we urge the Supreme Court Supervisory Body and the Judicial Commission to investigate the judges who handled this case for alleged ethical violations during the proceedings. We also call on the Ombudsman of the Republic of Indonesia to examine the alleged administrative misconduct during the appeal process," Irvan concluded. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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