Exclusive, KAI Advisory Board Ridwan Syaidi Tarigan: The Rules of Law are Enough, Enforcement is Still a Problem

In theory, according to Member of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Advocates Congress (KAI) Dr. Ridwan Syaidi Tarigan, S.H., M.H., the law in Indonesia is enough. The problem is with the implementation or enforcement of the law itself. This is a heavy task that must be carried out by the state and law enforcement.

***

As part of the law enforcement element, Ridwan's opinion is very reasonable. "We have just passed the new Criminal Code (KUHP). We also have a new Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP). However, however good the system is, all of this depends on the person, namely the law enforcement," he said.

Ideally, he said, law enforcement should be in synergy, but in reality on the ground it has not yet materialized. The police, prosecutor's office, judges, KPK, and lawyers seem to still prioritize their corps. There is a perception that they are fighting for the interests of their corps or group. "That's why the public sees them as competing, not synergizing to enforce the law," he continued to criticize.

The case of the search of the house of the former Jampidsus of the Attorney General's Office, Febrie Adriansyah, which has become public consumption, according to Ridwan, is a test for the Attorney General's Office and other law enforcement. "Can our law enforcement answer public doubts in the legal process of this FA case? Don't let this case evaporate and not be completed. The integrity of law enforcement is at stake in this case," he told Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Dandi Juniar when visiting the VOI office, Tanah Abang, Jakarta, July 30, 2026.

As an advocate and member of the KAI Advisory Council, how do you see the current state of law enforcement in Indonesia?

Actually, the law in Indonesia is already good. We have just passed the new Criminal Code (KUHP). We also have a new Code of Criminal Procedure (KUHAP). However, however good the system is, all of this depends on the person.

Whether it's like he wants to run or not. So this becomes a public question when there is a difference in handling a case, especially if there is overlapping regulation. This is what makes people distrust, so it seems like there is a game. It seems like our law is made not right. In fact, Indonesia has very adequate criminal and civil law experts.

So, legally we are enough, but the implementation is the problem?

Yes, often the implementation is the problem. Moreover, we see that there are several cases where the perpetrators - or the law enforcement themselves - play it.

"This is self-criticism for law enforcement, right?

"Yes.

How do you think we should solve this problem?

President Prabowo has said that law enforcement should not play with the law. Do not play with the law at will or do what is called abuse of power. In its implementation, the law is often used to protect the interests of certain individuals or groups.

Ideally, law enforcement officers such as prosecutors, judges, and lawyers should be in synergy. Are they already in synergy?

Institutionally, they are indeed required to synergize. It's just that in its implementation it hasn't been. Moreover, recently we have seen that there are members of the National Police who have been caught by the KPK, then suddenly there are members of the Prosecutor's Office who have been searched at home because they are suspected of committing TPPU (money laundering criminal act). What is now the most talked about is Febrie Adriansyah alias FA, former Jampidsus of the Attorney General's Office of the Republic of Indonesia.

How do you analyze this FA case?

This is actually an interesting thing. Why? Because when the money and 74 kg of gold were found in his house, it was admitted by Febrie himself as his house. However, there was also an admission that the goods and money had their owners. This became a public question: who has the money and gold? Later, Don Ritto said it belonged to him. The question is, is it possible for someone to put his wealth in someone else's house? It is not possible for someone to put his wealth in someone else's house. This is also a public question.

Is he hiding behind this?

"We can't go there. We just wait for the investigation of the police who are running. When he said it was his house (which was searched) and the goods had owners, it means there is an indication of TPPU there. It's impossible for people to entrust goods whose value is not small - it's big. There are American dollars, Singapore dollars, and 74 kilograms of gold. He said it was worth almost Rp1 trillion. Who would want to entrust it? Moreover, he has a fairly important position. This case is of concern to people because first, the value is big, and second, because he is an official.

Initially, this case was revealed by the National Police, then handed over or transferred to the Attorney General's Office. Is the term of transfer or transfer common in the context of Indonesian law?

This is what is interesting. Until now, the transfer that we understand is the transfer when there is a handling of suspected tipikor (corruption crime). If the prosecutor handles tipikor, it can be taken over by the KPK - this has happened. However, only this time we heard - maybe I'm wrong - there was a transfer from the Police to the Prosecutor's Office. In fact, in the hierarchy they are one unit. When the investigation is completed, it must be handed over to the Prosecutor's Office. Why did the Prosecutor's Office take over the case after the Police handed it over?

So this is a question mark for the public. Is it because this is one unit that must be protected? Who should be protected so that the case is eventually taken over? That's the question.

What do you mean by "protected or protected"?

"This is a question. When the police are investigating and finding evidence, then suddenly we hear the news in the media and TV that his house is guarded very tightly by TNI members. What's the problem? Then the next day we hear again that suddenly there has been a transfer.

"The matter is being handled by the police, handed over to the Prosecutor's Office, is it common or not common in our law?

According to some experts, this is unusual. According to me as a legal practitioner, this is also unusual. Very unusual, and I just found this kind of incident.

So this is weird but real, huh?

Yes, it's strange but real. So the question is: who is this effort to protect?

After the search and the discovery of evidence, the police designated FA as a suspect, but we don't know if he has been questioned or not. What is your analysis?

That's why there must be transparency in every handling of cases, especially our principle is the presumption of innocence. Before the search, the police had been spying to handle this case months or years ago, so that they found the goods they suspected and were looking for.

"We ask the government to order our law enforcement officers - the police and the prosecutor's office - to be transparent. We are not asking to be intervened in, because this community is a function of control. The supervision must exist internally, externally as well. However, the public sees it like this, it should be transparent, not open the results of the case - because it is the nature of it later in the proof. So how can this process really make the public participate in supervising it.

So this is a gamble for the prosecutor's institution to be transparent in investigating, even though it is their own ex-members?

"True. Because we can understand, if the one being investigated is his senior, there will be fear or reluctance. This is what makes people less trust the Attorney General's Institution. That's why yesterday the students demonstrated against the Attorney General. Then an investigation was made, but at the time of the determination of the suspect, it turned out that after the public was angry, he was only designated as a suspect. This is what makes the public wonder: how does the Attorney General handle this case? This is a gamble for the Attorney General. Don't mess around in handling this case.

With this winding process, do you think it's good to take this process to where?

The public asked for this case to be brought to the KPK. This means that the KPK is now a force of trust. Because the Prosecutor's Office has issued statements that eventually sparked public anger so that they became distrustful. Finally, the integrity of the Prosecutor's Office is questioned, then the KPK must enter.

When this case was rolling, suddenly Sutrimo who was called the head of the household of the FA family died with foaming mouth. Is there any correlation with FA?

This issue is also a public question and I also question this. How did he suddenly die with foaming mouth, what's going on? Don't hinder the public from guessing, "Oh this is probably because he knows there is a problem so he has to be burned." This is just our guess, yes. I hope the Prosecutor's Office can answer this public question. Be transparent in handling the Sutrimo case so that there are no more polemics that can damage the Prosecutor's Office institution.

What is the difficulty of the Prosecutor's Office to live openly without uncovering the results of the investigation? That's what we can hope for. Don't let the public lose confidence again.

There is also an interesting thing, your colleague, Hotman Paris Hutapea (HPH) finally resigned as FA's lawyer after in the first press conference his statement caused a diverse response from many circles. How do you observe this?

That is the right of one's profession. At first he was busy defending his client. Until the reporter asked many times, he answered emotionally, "Where is your brain?" That's what he said. Actually, such an answer is unethical, yes. After that he declared his resignation for health reasons, yes, that is his professional right.

After HPH withdrew as FA's lawyer, Febri Diansyah emerged as the new lawyer who was the KPK spokesman. What is your observation like?

"We as advocates in acting and stepping are protected by the law of advocates. We cannot reject a case at will. We appreciate his position by accepting FA's request, regardless of whether he was previously a KPK spokesperson. This is someone's profession, who forbids handling cases that have to do with the KPK? We will see the process, hopefully it can help enforce the law. Advocates are also law enforcers.

=-=-=-= READ ALSO =-=-=-=

There is an interesting phenomenon in Indonesia: "no viral, no justice". How do you see it as a law enforcement officer?

I am also often amused by this phenomenon. But the reality is like that, eventually, something that is viral, law enforcement such as the Police will act quickly. For example, when a case of espionage theft that went viral, suddenly a few hours later the perpetrator was arrested. People judge law enforcement depending on the viral, even though it should depend on the norm. We hope that the viral is not the basis for law enforcement. What has happened so far is that the impression of the public does not trust law enforcement, because when reporting the process is not clear, but if it is viral everything runs itself. That is the phenomenon that occurs.

"So what should it be like so that the legal process really happens, there is no discrimination, and it is really based on existing laws?"

"We agree that the law applies to everyone. It's just that, depending on the individual, the person - whether he wants to go or not. Now if, for example, the investigators have very high integrity, I believe that this law enforcement will be good and public confidence will arise. The public feels that they have the Police and the Prosecutor's Office as government tools, so they will not be self-judging.

So, hopefully all law enforcers - police, prosecutors, judges, lawyers, KPK - have high integrity. Law enforcement should no longer be based on viral first. Even if it is not viral, every report must be accepted and processed.

Back to the FA case, is this a big bet for the Attorney General and other law enforcers to show their integrity?

Yes, and the interesting thing is that when the FA said, "I will prove it to the President." Well, this becomes a question again: what's going on? Why is the President's name being brought up all the time? It should be, "I will prove to the public that I am innocent."

During the examination and detention, FA did not use a prisoner's vest as is customary for those who are detained. How do you see this?

Yes, this is a phenomenon that eventually became a harsh criticism for our law enforcement. It turns out that there is a different treatment. Regardless of whatever the reason, whether it's forgotten or because it's midnight, it's hard to accept. There are many cases in the middle of the night where vests are prepared and handcuffs are there. Even though the KPK has clarified that at the time of FA registration they were wearing vests, but the public only knows that when they leave FA they are not wearing vests and are handcuffed. It is natural that the public does not believe that this case is handled by the Prosecutor's Office. So hopefully the KPK can take over this case.

After the examination, FA admitted that he was criminalized. Your response?

"Yes, prove it if it's true and there are facts.

"For the evidence found at FA's house, is it enough?"

That's enough. If the person is there, just the owner. It is assumed that the owner is the owner of the house. Is it possible for someone to deposit it? It becomes a question. It just depends on the trial. FA says it belongs to anyone if it doesn't belong to him. The amount of money and gold is very much.

"We'll wait for the next legal process, yes. Hopefully this case doesn't float and evaporate?"

"We all have to supervise it, and the agencies that carry out this legal process must be open and transparent. If this is implemented, it will create trust. This case has become public consumption, so there should be no more political steps that can make a fuss and make the process of enforcing the law in Indonesia chaotic. The integrity of law enforcement by the Prosecutor's Office must be upheld, so that it is not questioned by the public.

In your opinion, what is the role of the President in this case so that this case is really complete?

It is interesting when a President's name is brought up in this matter. I hope President Prabowo will instruct the investigators - not to intervene, yes, because the President also cannot intervene - but to instruct law enforcement to carry out their duties in accordance with the applicable norms and corridors.

Being a law enforcement officer is not really a small dream for Dr. Ridwan Syaidi Tarigan, S.H., M.H., who is currently serving as a Member of the Advisory Council of the Indonesian Advocates Congress (KAI). When he was a teenager, he was interested in becoming a politician. What was the story of achieving his dream? Here's the story.

"Yes, actually, if you say since childhood, no, yes. I was about to graduate from high school, I was studying political science. But my late father said, 'Where do you want to go if you study politics?' I answered, 'To be a politician'," recalled the man who was born in Jakarta, March 17, 1982.

"Frankly, I am very fascinated by seeing the news and the language of the council members, it seems to be nice and smart. But my father said, 'Just be a lawyer.' Finally he directed me. He said that by studying law you can also do politics. I followed that advice," he continued.

It turns out, said Ridwan, what his father suggested proved. "Finally, I feel it's true, after I studied law at the University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta until I completed my S-3 at Borobudur University. I can still do politics by being a legal expert and a legal practitioner at the same time. Try if I'm just a politician, it's not necessarily the other way around," he said. man who is now an advocate and curator.

Apart from his father's advice, who inspired him to pursue a career in law? "The inspiration is my uncle, the late Aspan Tarigan. He is a very intellectual lawyer, the point is that he is also a lecturer. That is what made me finally focus more on law," said Ridwan, who is now also teaching as a lecturer at Pertiba University, Pangkalpinang, Bangka.

He is grateful to be able to realize his dreams despite coming from a simple family. "I am grateful to be able to finish college, especially since we do not come from people who are there. We don't have a lot of money like many people. My father only graduated from STM and he works as an employee of PLN. My mother only graduated from elementary school, the first grade of SMP was married to my father," said this alumni of the Faculty of Law, University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta (S-1), Kartini University (S-2), and Borobudur University Jakarta (S-3).

When he graduated from college, he was envious of his friends who worked at the company first. "It seems to be good, I already have a motorcycle, I still take the city bus. I then took the lawyer exam and joined the Indonesian Advocates Congress. That's where I saw how being a law enforcement officer was not just a search for money. But how this heart moves to help people find justice," he said.

As an advocate, he is not always paid with money for the hard work of defending his clients. "Wah, often he pays bread, vegetables. But I live all of that honestly. Thank God, I have tasted the sweetness," he continued.

"When I defended a drug case with other lawyer friends, we were able to prove that our client was indeed a mistake in association. He was using drugs out of necessity, but the police charged him with the dealer's article," he said.

However, with all his strength, based on the facts at hand, Ridwan and other lawyers were able to convince the judge that his client was a user, not a dealer as the police suspected. "There are indeed evidence of scales and drugs, but he did not sell. All of them were used for personal use because of the dependence. We are very relieved to be able to convince the panel of judges that he is a user, not a dealer," he said, suggesting that law enforcement should not make the wrong decision. Users must be rehabilitated, not thrown into prison.

Even though he is busy, Ridwan sets aside time for his children and his wife. "Outside of professional affairs as an advocate, curator, and lecturer, my hobby is to gather with my family. If at home, the karaoke is a karaoke, singing with children and wives and other family members," he said.

Because he wants to focus on his family, he uses Saturdays and Sundays or other holidays for his family. "Work only Monday to Saturday, holidays are full for the family, unless there is a very important matter," said the father of one child who is 8 years old.

Like his father, Ridwan will not force his son to pursue a profession when he grows up. "We as parents only see what the child's talent is, we will direct it there," he said.

And what he observed, his only child is talented in painting. "So far his talent is seen in painting. When he paints, he is very happy, and his doodles are many. In addition to drawing, our child also likes sports, playing on the trampoline. We will see how the next development will be," he said.

For Ridwan, children are a trust from the Almighty, he must take care of them. "The child is a trust. We only take care of it. His future, he will decide," he concluded.

"I hope President Prabowo will instruct the investigators - not to intervene, yes, because the President also cannot intervene - but to instruct law enforcement to carry out their duties in accordance with the applicable norms and corridors," he said.

Ridwan Syaidi Tarigan