MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The placement of Police Brigadier Imansyah Harefa in a special detention facility for 20 days by the Professional and Security Division (Propam) of the North Sumatra Regional Police (Polda Sumatera Utara) has drawn the attention of legal aid organization LBH Medan. The measure is part of the professional ethics enforcement process within the Indonesian National Police in connection with the handling of a firearm. However, according to LBH Medan, the matter must not end with an alleged ethics violation, as there are also indications of possible negligence that investigators must thoroughly examine, particularly in relation to the death of Winda Lorenza Gowasa.
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., said Imansyah's placement in the special facility in this case must proceed in parallel with investigations and inquiries into the possibility of a criminal offense. In his view, law enforcement authorities must objectively determine whether there were failures in the possession, storage, securing, and control of the firearm under Imansyah's responsibility.
Irvan referred to Article 474 Paragraph (3) of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP). Under the provision, anyone who causes another person's death through negligence may face a prison sentence of up to five years or a Category V fine.
Possible Negligence in Firearm Handling
Irvan stressed that investigators must not focus solely on who physically fired the weapon or limit their work to a ballistic examination. He called on investigators to employ scientific investigative methods to analyze the projectile's kinetic energy, trajectory, and impact.
"Investigators must examine whether there was negligence in the possession, storage, securing, and control of the firearm under Imansyah's responsibility," Irvan said in an official statement issued on August 12, 2026.
According to Irvan, investigators must also determine how the firearm came within the victim's reach. They must further establish whether there was a causal connection between any possible negligence in securing the weapon and Winda's death.
"In relation to firearms belonging to members of the Indonesian National Police, compliance with regulations governing the security and control of firearms must also be examined, including the provisions of Police Regulation (Perpol) No. 1 of 2022," Irvan added.
LBH Medan emphasized that the ethics proceedings against Imansyah do not prevent law enforcement authorities from investigating and prosecuting any suspected criminal offense. According to Irvan, the allegations may involve negligent homicide as well as a suspected murder case that Winda's father had previously reported to the North Sumatra Regional Police.
The report was registered under Police Report Receipt No. LP/B/1286/VIII/2026/Polda Sumut, dated August 7, 2026.
"If it is established that negligence in securing the firearm caused or contributed causally to Winda's death, the case must not end with an ethics violation. The criminal aspect must also be investigated," Irvan said.
LBH Medan Raises Unresolved Questions over Death
In addition to the handling of the firearm, LBH Medan has also highlighted various pieces of information concerning Winda's condition before and at the time of her death. Irvan said media reports and statements from the family contained several points that, in the family's view, require scientific clarification.
According to Irvan, the family has raised questions about certain physical abnormalities, including bruising around the eyes and what was described as a soft appearance in the skull area. The family has also questioned the sequence of events surrounding the alleged suicide, which they consider implausible.
LBH Medan stressed that such concerns must not be used as the basis for premature conclusions before investigators have examined and verified all available evidence. For that reason, the organization has urged investigators to apply a "Scientific Crime Investigation," meaning a forensic investigation based on scientific methods.
In Irvan's view, this approach is important to address the various questions raised within the victim's family and among the public. Investigators must comprehensively examine every fact, witness statement, physical piece of evidence, and forensic finding so that the determination of Winda's cause of death rests on a reliable evidentiary foundation.
LBH Medan also emphasized that suicide should not be treated as a final conclusion until all evidence has undergone scientific examination. According to the organization, the criminal investigation must be based on the facts and evidence actually uncovered by investigators, rather than forcing the evidence to fit a predetermined conclusion.
"Therefore, investigators must establish the facts surrounding Winda's death objectively and fairly. If this is not done, it is understandable that the case will continue to fuel speculation among the public. This has significant implications for public trust in the police," Irvan said.
LBH Medan Calls for Police Chief Evaluation
In its statement,
LBH Medan also called on the National Police Chief to evaluate the performance of the Medan Police Chief. The organization believes police must avoid premature conclusions in every criminal investigation, particularly in cases involving a person's death when the family and the public continue to have unanswered questions.
According to Irvan, investigators must provide sufficient room for all facts to emerge. The investigation must not only determine how Winda died, but also establish the sequence of events leading to her death, including the origin and control of the firearm connected to the case.
From a human rights perspective,
LBH Medan noted that the state has an obligation to protect every person's right to life and ensure that any unnatural death is effectively investigated.
LBH Medan cited Article 28A of the 1945 Constitution of Indonesia, Article 9 of the Human Rights Law, Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as important legal foundations for protecting the right to life.
LBH Medan hopes law enforcement authorities will resolve the case objectively and transparently, based on the available evidence. Such an approach would not only provide certainty to the family of Winda Lorenza Gowasa but also address the various questions that have emerged among the public.
LBH Medan considers a comprehensive examination of the facts essential to maintaining public confidence in law enforcement and the police institution. Any alleged violation, whether related to professional ethics or criminal law, must be addressed in accordance with applicable legal provisions.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala