MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Medan Legal Aid Foundation (Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Medan/LBH Medan) has expressed its deepest condolences and serious concern over the death of Winda Lorenza Gowasa. The human rights and legal assistance organization also criticized the handling of the case, stating that the investigation process has not fully reflected the principles of accuracy, professionalism, and transparency required in law enforcement.
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., stated that the Medan Police's claim that
Winda Lorenza died by suicide was premature, as a comprehensive investigation based on the principles of Scientific Crime Investigation had not yet been completed.
According to Irvan, law enforcement authorities have a responsibility to uncover the objective truth in every case involving the loss of human life. Investigators, he said, must not draw conclusions before all available evidence has been thoroughly examined.
"In every legal incident that results in the loss of a person's life, law enforcement authorities are obligated to reveal the material truth through objective evidence. No conclusion should be made prematurely before all facts and evidence - including witness statements, documents, expert opinions, and other supporting materials - have been fully examined," Irvan said in an official statement on Thursday, August 6, 2026.
LBH Medan Highlights Alleged Inconsistencies in Victim's Condition
LBH Medan stated that several suspicious inconsistencies surrounding
Winda Lorenza's death require serious investigation by authorities. Irvan said these concerns were based on information provided by the victim's family, reports published by media outlets, and photographic documentation obtained from journalists.
According to family statements reported by several media organizations, the victim's former husband was allegedly present at the scene of the incident. The family also pointed out several physical conditions they considered inconsistent with the previously announced explanation regarding the cause of death.
Irvan cited the statement of Winda's father, who claimed there were signs of injuries on his daughter's body.
"Based on our observations, there were indications of strangulation marks on the neck and bruising around the eyes. The entire body appeared partially bluish. In addition, there were no visible signs of a gunshot wound as previously reported," Irvan said, referring to the victim's father's statement.
Irvan further explained that the family questioned several conditions found on the victim's body, including discoloration and injuries in various areas. These included bluish discoloration around the navel, both thighs, scratches on the left knee, changes on both feet, and abnormalities found on several fingers.
"Furthermore, it was found that the victim's navel had turned bluish. Officials explained that this was caused by the decomposition process. However, further questions remain regarding the bluish discoloration on both thighs, scratches on the left knee, discoloration on both feet, and changes to several fingers. The most significant issue remains the alleged gunshot injury," Irvan stated.
He added that the victim's younger sister, identified by the initials IC, had previously told the media that
Winda Lorenza had experienced violence several times before the separation.
LBH Medan believes these findings indicate that several unanswered questions must continue to be investigated to establish the actual cause of Winda Lorenza's death.
DEMAND FOR COMPLETE INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH CASE:
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra urges investigators to uncover all facts surrounding
Winda Lorenza's death through an objective and scientifically based investigation. (PHOTO: Doc.
LBH Medan)
Transparency of Investigation Process Under Scrutiny
Irvan stated that, until now, the police have not provided a comprehensive explanation regarding the sequence of events, the chronology of the incident, or the roles of individuals who were present at the scene.
He also questioned the process of providing information to the victim's family, which he described as taking an unusually long time. In addition, LBH Medan criticized the strict security measures implemented by police officers at the hospital, which allegedly made it difficult for family members, including the victim's sister, to directly see Winda Lorenza.
"Information disclosure to the family was allegedly delayed unnecessarily. The security measures carried out by police officers at the hospital were extremely strict. There is even a concern that the family or the victim's sister was not given the opportunity to directly see the deceased during her time at the hospital," Irvan said.
According to him, the situation raises concerns regarding the transparency of the case handling process and could affect public confidence in the ongoing legal proceedings.
Transparency of Investigation Process Under Scrutiny
Irvan again highlighted the physical condition of the victim, stating that the family had reported serious head injuries, suspected changes to the skull structure, and bruising around the eyes.
"The inconsistencies become even more apparent when linked to the victim's physical condition. According to the family, the victim suffered serious head injuries, with suspicions that the skull had become soft, accompanied by bruising around the eyes. This raises questions regarding the actual cause of death," he explained.
LBH Medan also questioned the assumption that the death was caused by a firearm. According to Irvan, police investigators must provide a scientific explanation regarding the distance from which the shot was fired, the location of the injury, and how the incident occurred if a gunshot wound was indeed the cause of death.
He emphasized that photographs circulating publicly had not yet provided clear evidence regarding which part of the victim's body was allegedly struck by a firearm. Investigators must also clarify how the weapon came to be in the victim's possession if the initial assumption was that the incident was a suicide.
FAMILY'S RIGHT TO INFORMATION ON INVESTIGATION PROCESS: LBH Medan calls on law enforcement authorities to ensure that the victim's family receives access to information and justice throughout the ongoing investigation. (PHOTO: Doc. LBH Medan)
Call for North Sumatra Police Chief to Reveal All Facts
LBH Medan reminded authorities that Indonesia has previously faced major cases in which alleged manipulation of investigations became a public concern. The organization cited the death case of Brigadier Joshua, which brought the name Ferdy Sambo into the center of the investigation.
LBH Medan urged investigators to prevent similar issues from occurring in the handling of the
Winda Lorenza case.
According to LBH Medan, every circumstance must be examined objectively if the victim's physical condition does not correspond with the chronology previously presented to the public, including statements made by Bripka IH.
The organization stated that investigators must conduct an independent forensic examination, thoroughly analyze the crime scene, reconstruct the sequence of events, question all witnesses, carry out forensic laboratory examinations, and collect additional evidence in accordance with the provisions of Indonesia's Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP).
LBH Medan emphasized that investigators must not rely solely on one assumption regarding the cause of death. Instead, all possible scenarios must be investigated, including the possibility of a criminal act if supporting evidence is found.
"From a human rights perspective, the state has a constitutional obligation to protect every citizen's right to life and ensure that every suspected unnatural death is investigated effectively, independently, and accountably," Irvan said.
LBH Medan also referred to several legal foundations concerning the protection of life and the state's obligation to provide legal protection. These include Article 28A and Article 28D Paragraph (1) of the 1945 Constitution, Article 9 Paragraph (1) of Law Number 39 of 1999 on Human Rights, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
Regarding criminal procedure,
LBH Medan stated that Articles 49 to 51 of the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) require investigators to obtain forensic medical examinations by experts in cases involving suspected criminal deaths, in order to ensure objective evidence.
LBH Medan condemned any form of intimidation, possible concealment of facts, or actions that could obstruct the law enforcement process. The organization called on the state to guarantee that the victim's family receives access to information and justice.
"Considering the many unanswered questions that remain,
LBH Medan suspects that this was not a suicide, but that there is an indication of a criminal act connected to the death of
Winda Lorenza," Irvan stated.
The organization subsequently called on the North Sumatra Police Chief to take over the handling of the case and initiate concrete legal measures. LBH Medan also requested the National Human Rights Commission (Komnas HAM) and the National Police Commission (Kompolnas) to monitor the progress of the investigation.
LBH Medan further urged investigators to conduct the examination and investigation professionally, independently, transparently, and accountably, while revealing all possible causes of death based on lawful evidence.
The organization demanded a comprehensive forensic examination of all injuries found on the victim, questioning of all witnesses and individuals present at the scene, and transparent communication with the family regarding the investigation progress, autopsy results, and other examination findings.
Irvan emphasized that
Winda Lorenza's death was not merely the loss of a human life, but also reflected the state's responsibility to guarantee the right to life, legal certainty, and access to justice.
"Therefore, LBH Medan reaffirms its commitment to continue monitoring this process until all facts are fully revealed, the legal proceedings are conducted based on the principles of due process of law, there is no room for impunity, and justice for Winda Lorenza and her family is truly realized," Irvan concluded. (IDNC)
REPORTER:
Darmailawati | EDITOR:
Fik Sagala