Gerak Peras Company Ormas Officials In Pekanbaru Arrested, The Mode Threatens To Be Demonstrated

The Directorate of General Criminal Investigation (Ditreskrimum) of the Riau Police has named a man named Jekson Jumari Pandapotan Sihombing as a suspect in the alleged extortion case against PT Ciliandra Perkasa in Pekanbaru.

The suspect was arrested by the Jatanras Sub-Directorate III team of the Riau Police Ditreskrimum when he was about to receive Rp150 million from the victim at the Furaya Hotel, Jalan Jenderal Sudirman, Pekanbaru City, on Tuesday, October 14.

Deputy Director of Criminal Investigation at the Riau Police, AKBP Sunhot Silalahi, explained that the suspect's modus operandi was to threaten to hold demonstrations in Jakarta and spread negative news regarding one of the company's groups if his request was not fulfilled.

"The suspect asked for money up to Rp5 billion with the threat of holding a demonstration seven times in Jakarta and reporting on issues that could defame the company," Sunhot told reporters, Thursday, October 16.

Prior to the arrest, the suspect known as the General Chair of Youth Tri Karya (Ormas Lightning) had first spread a number of news in online media containing false accusations against the company group, including accusing the existence of corruption and environmental destruction practices worth Rp1.4 trillion.

The company that became a victim then reported to the Riau Police because they felt aggrieved and were never given the right to be responsible for the news.

During the arrest operation, the police confiscated various pieces of evidence, including one car, a number of cell phones, Rp150 million in cash, two rooms of Hotel Furaya, and CCTV footage showing the suspect's activities at the scene.

In addition, from the results of the search of the suspect's house in Rumbai, laptops, printers, savings books, and clarification documents with the letterhead of the Lightning Mass Organization with organizational stamps sent to a number of companies and government agencies.

He explained that during the search, dozens of requests for clarification were also found to a number of companies and other parties with similar modes carried out by the suspect to PT Ciliandra Perkasa.

According to AKBP Sunhot, the handling of this case is proof of the seriousness of the Riau Police in taking action against extortionists who use the guise of media coverage to pressure certain parties.

In addition, the suspect's activities can also have an impact on disruption to the business climate and investment in Riau Province.

"We emphasize that freedom of the press should not be used as a tool to extort or scare other parties. Anyone who is proven to have violated the law in this way will be processed according to criminal provisions," he said.

For his actions, the suspect Jekson Sihombing was charged with Article 368 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code concerning extortion, with a maximum imprisonment of nine years.

Currently, investigators from the Riau Police Ditreskrimum are still investigating the possibility of the involvement of other parties and the economic motives behind the suspect's actions.

"The investigation continues, and we will summon additional witnesses to strengthen the evidence," said AKBP Sunhot.

Responding to these developments, the Director of the Community Organization of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Budi Arwan, stated that the government would take firm steps against mass organizations that were proven to have violated the law and disrupted public order.

He explained that every community organization has the right to associate and express opinions, but that right should not be misused.

"If proven to have committed acts of violence, extortion, or other violations of the law, the mass organization will be disbanded in accordance with the provisions of Law Number 17 of 2013 concerning Community Organizations," said Budi.

Budi added that the Ministry of Home Affairs together with the Ministry of Law and Human Rights are reviewing recommendations for the revocation of the Lightning Ormas legal entity based on the results of coordination with the Riau Police.

"If it is legally proven to have violated the provisions of Article 59 paragraph (3) letter c of the Ormas Law, then the status of the legal entity can be revoked and the mass organization declared disbanded," he said.

According to him, this case serves as a reminder that freedom of association and opinion must remain in the corridor of law.

"The state guarantees the freedom of citizens, but is also obliged to protect the public from abuse of organizations that harm the public," said Budi.