Jakarta Police Deny Plan to Arrest Pati Activist

2 hours ago 4

August 24, 2026 | 10:04 pm

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta Metropolitan Police denied claims of an attempt to arrest Supriyono, familiarly known as Botok, the coordinator of the Pati United Community Alliance (AMPB). Botok, along with several members of the Pati-based community, protested in front of the parliament building in Central Jakarta on Monday, August 24, 2026. They demanded the lawmakers adopt the Asset Seizure Bill.

“Mr. Supriyono alias Botok was neither arrested nor detained by the police,” said Chief of Public Relations of the Jakarta Metropolitan Police, Commissioner Budi Hermanto, on Monday.

He explained that the Intelligence and Security Unit of the Central Jakarta Police had previously communicated with Botok regarding the planned protest in front of the House of Representatives (DPR). According to Budi, the police had explained the necessary administrative requirements for the type of activities the community intended to carry out.

“The Pati community then relayed that they did not plan to gather to express their opinions, but rateher collecting logistical support and pay a visit," he said.

The police then suggested that the community should still obtain permits from the police, which Botok responded positively to. He requested to be accompanied by police personnel to the Jakarta Metropolitan Regional Police using official vehicles.

As they were about to depart, some of the crowd at the location mistakenly thought that Botok was being forcibly taken into custody. According to Budi, Botok explained that he planned to obtain permits at the Jakarta Metropolitan Police. “However, due to the increasingly crowded situation at the location, the departure was eventually canceled,” Budi said.

Budi asserted that the police officers were there to provide explanations regarding the administrative process to obtain permits, not to arrest Botok.

Based on Tempo's observation at the location, the crowd dispersed at around 4:17 p.m. local time, boarding a white bus with a shattered front window after being hit by bricks while en route to Jakarta.

Earlier, Botok’s bank account was blocked while he accompanied residents at the protest outside the DPR building on August 21.

The account contained around Rp80.9 million ($4,800) in personal funds and public donations intended to cover expenses for protesters, including food, transportation and accommodation.

The reported restriction left residents who had traveled from Pati without access to funds they had set aside for the protest's operational needs.

Bank Mandiri later apologized through a comment on its official Instagram account. The bank said the action had been taken in response to a request from law enforcement authorities and in accordance with applicable procedures and regulations.

“The blocking was carried out as a follow-up to a request from law enforcement authorities and in accordance with applicable procedures and regulations,” Bank Mandiri wrote on Sunday.

The bank did not identify which law enforcement agency had made the request.

Later, the Jakarta Metropolitan Police admitted to submitting a request letter for suspending the transactions in Botok’s account to Bank Mandiri, but not a request for blocking.

Read: Bus Carrying Pati Residents to Jakarta Protest Pelted With Bricks

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