A 20-year-old defendant accused of hurling rocks at the police during student protests in the capital in September of last year has told a panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court that he was tortured by police officers to falsely confess to having attacked authorities.

Dede Luthfi Alfiandi, whose photo clutching an Indonesian flag to his face has become an emblem of the student protests over controversial bills in the House of Representatives, said during a hearing on Monday that the torture took place while he was being questioned by the West Jakarta Police.