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| Elderly 92-Year-Old Woman Faces Court Trial: A Heartbreaking Case of Justice and Humanity. (Image AI) |
When I write this, I feel a mix of sadness and frustration. How could this happen? A 92-year-old grandmother, barely able to walk without help, is now standing trial in court. It feels like our country is losing its compassion. Let me share her story with you.
At 92 years old, most people are resting quietly in the final chapter of their lives. But for Ni Nyoman Reja, this stage has become a courtroom drama she never asked for. On May 15, 2025, she slowly made her way to the Denpasar District Court. Her hair was completely white, her body fragile, her skin marked by the years, and she needed someone to support her just to walk. But she wasn’t being taken to a family gathering or a peaceful place. She was going to the defendant’s chair.
In our country, a 92-year-old woman accused of something as serious as falsifying family records—something she might not even fully understand—is now facing criminal charges. This case challenges the very heart of a nation that claims to uphold fairness and humanity.
The story began on May 14, 2021. Along with 16 others, Nyoman Reja is accused of creating a family lineage document that lists I Riyeg (also known as I Wayan Riyeg) as the child of I Made Gombloh, who had a traditional marriage with Ni Rumpeng. This contradicts official documents that state I Riyeg is the child of Jro Made Lusuh from a formal marriage. Another document from 1985 and an official certificate from 1979 support this claim. A year later, in 2022, the disputed family tree was again presented with the same information.
This family dispute over inheritance escalated into a criminal case. The prosecutor argues that falsifying these documents could confuse family origins and potentially harm others. The legal system is ready to act firmly. But who really suffers here? Is it the land? The family records? Or our humanity being worn down by rigid bureaucracy?
Nyoman Reja didn’t come to court with expensive lawyers or powerful backing. She arrived with just her frail body and traditional white Balinese clothing. She’s no land mafia or part of a forgery ring. She’s an elderly woman who might struggle even to read the documents she signed. Yet the law doesn’t care—it’s cold, unfeeling, and blind to the reality of her age and condition.
Her lawyer, I Made Somya Putra, quietly argued that this should be a civil case, not a criminal one. But no one seemed to listen. The complainant doesn’t even have direct ties to the land in question. Still, the trial went on. Instead of resting peacefully in her final years, Ni Nyoman Reja sat confused, tired, and scared, facing a judge and an uncertain future.
People watched from afar. Social media filled with prayers and sympathy for the elderly grandmother. But do online tears ease the real pain on her face? Should justice really come at the cost of making a 92-year-old woman struggle through the courtroom?
From a legal standpoint, maybe it’s justified. But from a human perspective, it’s heartbreaking. This case isn’t just about one woman; it’s a test for all of us. What kind of society are we if we can’t show mercy to our elders? Are we still humans, or just cold enforcers of rules without feeling?
Ni Nyoman Reja just wants to go home. But the home she gets is a courtroom seat, a place where time and compassion seem forgotten.
This story reminds us: true justice isn’t just about laws. It’s about kindness, understanding, and protecting those who cannot defend themselves.
#camanewak, Rosadi Jamani, Ketua Satupena Kalbar
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