Despite Being A Suspect, The Police Decide Not To Arrest Dr Lois Owien

JAKARTA - The Directorate of Cyber Crimes, Bareskrim Polri, has decided not to detain doctor Lois Owien for the alleged case of spreading false news or hoaxes about COVID-19.

No arrests were made because Lois Owien had confessed to his actions. In addition, the settlement of the case was by applying the concept of precision.

"The person concerned has agreed not to run away. Therefore, I decided not to detain the person concerned, this is also in accordance with the Polri concept towards just precision," said the Director of Cyber Crimes at the National Police Criminal Investigation Agency, Brigadier General Slamet Uliandi in his statement, Tuesday, 13 July.

Slamet told investigators Lois Owien also promised not to run away and destroy evidence. It is also a consideration not to hold it.

"After being examined by investigators, we came to the conclusion that the person concerned will not repeat his actions and will not eliminate evidence, considering that we already have all the evidence," said Slamet.

On the other hand, the National Police prioritizes restorative justice so that this kind of opinion problem does not become an act that can be repeated in society.

"We see that imprisonment is not the only measure, but the last resort in law enforcement, or termed the ultimum remidium. So, the Police in this case prioritizes preventive efforts so that acts like this are not followed by other parties," said Slamet.

Slamet also hopes that efforts to remind this doctor to be wise in using social media as a means of social communication.

"Indonesia is trying to suppress the spread of the pandemic, once again the imprisonment of doctors with opinions is expected not to add to the nation's problems. So, the National Police and our health workers ask to focus on dealing with COVID in this Emergency PPKM period," he said.

Lois Owien was arrested by the Polda Metro Jaya on Sunday, July 11, at around 16.00 WIB. He has also been named as a suspect in the spread of fake news or hoaxes.

The arrest was the aftermath of his statement which stated that the patient or community who died were not caused by the COVID-19 virus. Rather, because of excessive drug interactions. On her Twitter account, Lois even said that COVID is not a virus.

In addition, he also said that the drugs used for COVID-19 patients cause complications in the body.