Police Considerations That Changed Doctor Lois Owien's Detention Decision

JAKARTA - The suspect in the case of spreading false news or hoaxes about COVID-19, doctor Lois Owien, finally did not undergo detention. The police said they had several reasons for this.

The Director of Cyber Crime, Criminal Investigation Unit of the National Police (Bareskrim Polri), Brigadier General Slamet Uliandi, said that the detention was not carried out because Lois Owien had already admitted her actions. In addition, the resolution of the case also applies the concept of precision.

"The person concerned has agreed not to run away. Therefore, I have decided not to detain her, this is also in accordance with the Police concept towards just precision," said Slamet in his statement, Tuesday, July 13.

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 her 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 the issue of opinion like this does not become an act that can be repeated in the community.

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

With these reasons and considerations, finally, Lois Owien did not languish behind bars. In fact, previously the Police Criminal Investigation Unit stated that she would be detained at the National Police-Criminal Investigation Unit.

"The objective reasons are according to the law and the investigators' subjective reasons," he said.

Although the detention decision was changed, Commissioner-General Agus emphasized that the criminal legal process was still ongoing. Thus, violations regarding the alleged spread of hoaxes will still be resolved until the trial stage.

"(The case) is still being processed," said Agus.

In fact, the legal status of Lois Owien is still a suspect. So, by not being detained does not mean that the investigation of the case is stopped.

"(The status of the suspect) is in accordance with the article that is suspected of being concerned," he said.

Lois Owien was arrested by the Metro Jaya Police on Sunday, July 11, at around 16.00 western Indonesia time. She has also been named a suspect in spreading false news or hoaxes.

The arrest was the aftermath of her statement which stated that the patient or community who died were not caused by the COVID-19 virus. Rather, because of excessive drug interactions.

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

In this case, Lois Owien is accused of Article 28 paragraph (2) in conjunction with Article 45A paragraph (2) of Law Number 19 of 2016 concerning Amendments to Law Number 11 of 2008 concerning Information and Electronic Transactions and/or Article 14 paragraph (1) Law Number 1 of 1946 and/or Article 14 paragraph (2) of Law Number 1 of 1946 and/or Article 14 paragraph (1) and Law Number 4 of 1984 and/or Article 15 of Law Number 1 of 1946 concerning Criminal Law Regulations.