MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Medan High Court has upheld the previous pretrial ruling in favor of Arjoni in a case concerning the termination of an investigation into an alleged embezzlement offense. The court ruled that the termination of the investigation by investigators from the North Sumatra Police was unlawful and ordered the investigation to be resumed.
The panel of judges at the
Medan High Court delivered its decision on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, in pretrial case No. 2/Pid.Pra/2026/PT MDN in conjunction with No. 80/Pid.Pra/2026/PN MDN.
Arjoni had filed the proceedings against the
North Sumatra Police Chief and relevant subordinate units.
Director of LBH Medan, Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., said the Medan High Court's decision upheld the ruling issued by the Medan District Court in pretrial case No. 80/Pid.Pra/2026/PN MDN. The Medan District Court had previously granted all of Arjoni's requests and ruled that the termination of the investigation by investigators from the North Sumatra Police was unlawful.
The appellate ruling relates to a report filed by
Arjoni over an alleged embezzlement offense. The case was based on Police Report No. LP/B/909/V/2021/SPKT/Polda Sumut dated May 31, 2021.
According to Irvan, the Medan High Court's decision has direct legal consequences for the continuation of the case. He described the ruling as final and legally binding.
"The decision of the
Medan High Court is a final decision, meaning that it has acquired permanent legal force (inkracht van gewijsde). This is in accordance with the mandate of the Indonesian Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). In other words, there is no further legal remedy against the decision of the
Medan High Court," Irvan said in an official statement on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.
Court Orders Investigation to Resume
Irvan said the
North Sumatra Police Chief and the relevant subordinate units must immediately implement the court's order. He said investigators should resume the investigation based on
Arjoni's report while ensuring professionalism, objectivity, transparency, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
He said the Medan High Court's decision provides a clear legal basis for investigators to continue the investigation that had previously been terminated.
"With regard to the appellate decision issued by the panel of judges of the
Medan High Court,
LBH Medan calls on the
North Sumatra Police Chief and the relevant subordinate units to immediately designate Heri Rahman as a suspect and detain him. This must be done to uphold the rule of law and provide
Arjoni and her children with justice and legal certainty," Irvan stressed.
Previously, a single judge of the Medan District Court, Lodewijk Ivandrie Simanjuntak, S.H., M.H., granted all of Arjoni's requests in pretrial case No. 80/Pid.Pra/2026/PN MDN in a ruling dated Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
In the ruling, the judge accepted and granted all of
Arjoni's requests. The judge also declared that the termination of the investigation carried out by the respondents was unlawful.
The termination referred to Investigation Termination Order No. SP.Henti.Sidik/367.a/VI/RES.1.11./2026/Ditreskrimum dated June 26, 2026, as well as the corresponding decision No. S.Tap/Henti.Sidik/08.b/VI/RES.1.11 Ditreskrimum issued on the same date.
In addition to declaring the termination of the investigation unlawful, the Medan District Court ordered investigators to resume the investigation related to Police Report No. LP/B/909/V/2021/SPKT/Polda Sumut dated May 31, 2021.
The court ordered that the legal costs be borne by the state and set them at zero rupiah.
INVESTIGATION RESUMPTION URGED: Director of
LBH Medan Irvan Saputra said the
North Sumatra Police Chief and relevant subordinate units must immediately implement the
Medan High Court's decision and resume the investigation. (PHOTO:
LBH Medan)
Judge Questions Basis for Investigation Termination
Irvan explained that, in its legal reasoning, the court considered the decision to terminate the investigation on the grounds that the matter did not constitute a criminal offense to be unjustified. According to him, the consideration was based on the absence of new facts that could justify changing the conclusions previously reached during the investigation.
"The termination of the investigation also cannot be based solely on the results of coordination if there is no sufficient legal basis and no adequate legal facts," Irvan said.
In his view, this consideration is an important part of the pretrial ruling because it concerns the legal basis relied upon by investigators when deciding to terminate the investigation.
In addition to questioning the termination of the investigation, LBH Medan also criticized the length of time taken to process Arjoni's report. Arjoni filed the police report on May 31, 2021. As a result, the case had remained under consideration for more than five years by the time the appellate decision was issued in September 2026.
Irvan described the situation as a prolonged process, or undue delay. In his view, the lengthy handling of the case raises questions concerning legal certainty and the rights of those affected to have their case effectively processed within a reasonable period.
"This situation raises questions concerning legal certainty and the victim's right to have the case handled effectively and within a reasonable period," Irvan said.
LENGTHY CASE PROCESS CRITICIZED: Director of
LBH Medan Irvan Saputra criticized the lengthy processing of
Arjoni's report since May 31, 2021, saying it raises questions concerning legal certainty and the victim's right to have the case handled within a reasonable period. (PHOTO:
LBH Medan)
LBH Medan Calls for Legal Certainty
LBH Medan views the
Arjoni case not solely as a matter of criminal law enforcement concerning an alleged offense. According to the legal aid organization, the case also concerns the right of a mother and her two children to legal certainty and protection of their rights as justice seekers.
Irvan stressed that the legal process must continue in accordance with the court decisions and that there should be no further delays following the rulings of the Medan District Court and Medan High Court, both of which declared the termination of the investigation unlawful.
For
LBH Medan, the decisions at both judicial levels provide an important basis for ensuring that the investigation is resumed in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. The legal aid organization also called on law enforcement authorities to provide clarity regarding the further handling of the case, which was first reported in 2021.
Therefore, following the decisions of the two courts declaring the termination of the investigation unlawful, the legal process must not once again be excessively prolonged (undue delay).
The
Medan High Court's decision now provides the basis for the relevant authorities to continue the legal process concerning
Arjoni's report.
LBH Medan said it would continue to monitor the case to ensure that the court's decision is implemented and that justice seekers receive the legal certainty they are entitled to.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala