Legal Literacy- Discussing the law of looting during demonstrations in Indonesia. Is this action justified? See the analysis according to Article 363 of the Criminal Code regarding theft.

Chronology of Riots and Looting

At the end of August 2025, massive demonstrations took place in a number of cities in Indonesia. This action was triggered by public disappointment with government policies that were considered increasingly detrimental. The demonstration, which initially focused on conveying opinions and advocacy, then turned into riots, especially after a number of public officials made statements that were considered provocative and hurt the people's hearts. One of them came from Ahmad Sahroni, a member of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPR RI). On Saturday afternoon, August 30, Sahroni's house in Tanjung Priok was attacked by a mob. Recordings circulating on social media showed the gate of his house being damaged, while a number of his belongings such as Iron Man statues, diplomas, certificates, and collection cars were stolen and damaged. From this point, the mass action then spread to the residences of a number of other public figures such as Eko Patrio, Surya Utama alias Uya Kuya, Nafa Urbach, to the Minister of Finance (Menkeu) Sri Mulyani, who had previously made statements that were considered inappropriate. Their houses were also looted or damaged by unidentified groups. This series of events finally raises an important question: How does Indonesian criminal law view looting that occurs in the context of demonstrations?