Deputy Chairman of DPR RI\u2019s Commission III, Rano Alfath, has welcomed\nthe acquittal of Amsal Christy Sitepu by the Medan District Court in the\ncorruption case concerning the production of village profile videos in\nKaro Regency, North Sumatra. Rano stated that the case demonstrates that\nthe law must not operate rigidly and detached from social realities.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis ruling reaffirms that the law should not function in a rigid\nmanner disconnected from social realities. What the panel of judges has\ndecided today reflects sensitivity to public perceptions of justice,\nparticularly for creative workers who often find themselves in grey\nareas under legal scrutiny,\u201d Rano told reporters on Wednesday\n(1\/4\/2026).<\/p>\n
Rano noted that from the perspective of criminal law provisions on\ncorruption offences, particularly Article 3 of the Anti-Corruption Law,\nthese cannot be separated from proving elements of abuse of authority\nand malicious intent (mens rea). In this case, he continued, it is\nessential to determine whether there was genuine intent to harm state\nfinances.<\/p>\n
\u201cOr whether it was merely a difference in valuation of professional\nservices that inherently lack standardised pricing. Criminal law\nenforcement cannot rely solely on numerical discrepancies or\nconstructions of state losses,\u201d said the PKB legislator.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be comprehensive proof of the fault elements, including\nmalicious intent and abuse of authority. If those aspects are not\nfulfilled, forcing the use of criminal instruments could potentially\nlead to injustice,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
He also highlighted the importance of caution in using audit results\non state losses as the basis for proof, especially in creativity-based\nsectors. According to him, an approach that values components such as\nideas, editing, or other creative processes as \u2018zero\u2019 indicates a\nmisunderstanding of the object being assessed.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn law, we recognise that not all administratively calculated losses\ncan automatically be qualified as state losses in a criminal context.\nThis is particularly true when the object is creative work that carries\nsubjective value and is based on agreements between parties,\u201d he\ncontinued.<\/p>\n
Rano views this case as an important moment to demonstrate that the\nstate recognises the value of young people\u2019s creative work. He stated\nthat equating creative work with mere goods procurement logic is\nmisguided.<\/p>\n
\u201cCreative work cannot be measured solely by material parameters. It\ninvolves ideas, thought processes, experience, and skills built over\nyears. All of that has value that cannot be averaged out or ignored,\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, Rano highlighted the relevance of this ruling amid\ntechnological advancements, including the rapid development of\nartificial intelligence (AI). According to him, in such an era, human\noriginality and creativity become increasingly valuable and must be\nprotected by the legal system.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the midst of AI progress, we must be increasingly aware that the\nhuman mind with its originality is irreplaceable. That is precisely\nwhere the core value of creative works lies. The state must be present\nto protect and appreciate that value, not the opposite,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Amsal Acquitted<\/p>\n
Previously, the judges of the Medan District Court declared Amsal\nChristy Sitepu not guilty in the corruption case involving the\nproduction of village profile videos in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.\nAmsal was thus acquitted.<\/p>\n
\u201cDeclaring the defendant Amsal not proven guilty and acquitted,\u201d said\nthe panel of judges, M Yusafrihardi Girsang, when reading the verdict at\nthe Medan District Court, as reported by detikSumut on Wednesday\n(1\/4).<\/p>\n
Amsal had previously been demanded a two-year prison sentence by the\nprosecutor. In addition, Amsal was demanded to pay a fine and\nrestitution money.<\/p>\n
\u201cDemanding the imposition of a criminal penalty on the defendant\nAmsal Sitepu, therefore, two years\u2019 imprisonment,\u201d said prosecutor Wira\nArizona at the Medan District Court on Friday (20\/2).<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/acquittal-of-amsal-sitepu-dprs-commission-iii-says-law-must-not-be-detached-from-reality-1775049385", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }