The Attorney General\u2019s Office (AGO) has recalled the Chief Prosecutor\nof Karo District (Kajari Karo), Dante Rajagukguk, along with several\nprosecutors handling the case of videographer Amsal Sitepu. This step\nwas taken following allegations of ethical violations after Amsal was\nacquitted by the court.<\/p>\n
Previously, Amsal Sitepu was demanded a two-year prison sentence by\nKaro District Prosecutor\u2019s Office prosecutors in a suspected corruption\ncase involving the production of village profile videos in Karo Regency.\nHowever, the panel of judges ruled that Amsal was not guilty and freed\nhim from all charges.<\/p>\n
Public attention to the handling of this case has extended to the\nHouse of Representatives (DPR). The DPR\u2019s Commission III even held a\nmeeting with the Karo District Prosecutor\u2019s Office officials on Thursday\n(2\/4) to delve into the legal process in the case.<\/p>\n
Kajari Karo Recalled<\/p>\n
The AGO has confirmed that it has taken over the handling of the\nalleged ethical violations. The Head of the Legal Information Centre\n(Kapuspenkum) of the AGO, Anang Supriatna, stated that the Kajari Karo\nand the prosecutorial team have been summoned to the centre for internal\nexamination.<\/p>\n
\u201cRegarding the Kajari Karo, the Head of Special Crimes Section, and\nthe Deputy Section Heads or Public Prosecutors who handled the case,\nthey have currently been recalled to the Attorney General\u2019s Office for\nclarification and will subsequently be examined internally by the\nAttorney General\u2019s Office,\u201d said AGO\u2019s Kapuspenkum Anang Supriatna to\nreporters on Sunday (5\/4).<\/p>\n
He added that the AGO\u2019s intelligence team has secured the prosecutors\nfor further examination purposes.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is true that they have been secured by the Attorney General\u2019s\nOffice intelligence team. Clearly, clarification will be conducted on\nthem to determine whether the case handling was professional or not; we\nawait the results of the clarification,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n
Threat of Sanctions<\/p>\n
The AGO also emphasised that sanctions will be imposed if violations\nare found in the handling of the Amsal Sitepu case. The clarification\nprocess is ongoing, prioritising the principle of caution.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf violations and unprofessionalism are proven, there will be\nethical actions from the internal side against them,\u201d said Anang.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, we need time in this matter, and we continue to\nprioritise the principle of caution while upholding the presumption of\ninnocence,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Kajari Karo\u2019s Statements<\/p>\n
In the meeting with DPR Commission III, Kajari Karo Dante Rajagukguk\nexplained the basis for detaining Amsal Sitepu. He stated that they used\nthe old Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) provisions because the detention\nprocess occurred in 2025.<\/p>\n
\u201cAccording to us, the basis for detaining Mr Amsal is Article 21 of\nthe old KUHAP, where Amsal was detained from 19 November 2025 to 08\nDecember 2025,\u201d said Dante.<\/p>\n
Dante explained that Amsal\u2019s designation as a suspect was based on\nsuspicions of mark-up in the village profile video project. One finding\nwas the discrepancy between the equipment rental duration and the actual\nfield implementation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe legal facts obtained in the trial show that the activity was not\ncarried out for up to 30 days, so the expert concluded that the rental\npayment should match the duration of the activity,\u201d said Dante.<\/p>\n
Additionally, he mentioned double budgeting in the video production\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\u201cAmsal reintroduced budget positions for editing, cutting, and\ndubbing, each with a budget of Rp 1,000,000, where according to the\nexpert, editing, cutting, and dubbing are the same as video design\nproduction, so cutting, editing, and dubbing were considered as losses,\u201d\nhe explained.<\/p>\n
In the same forum, Chairman of DPR Commission III Habiburokhman\nhighlighted the slowness of the detention suspension process for Amsal.\nHe emphasised the importance of respecting an individual\u2019s right to\nfreedom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen, it was also explained why it took so long to come to Tanjung\nGusta, even though we know, Ma\u2019am, that freedom is a principle. If\nthere\u2019s traffic, don\u2019t take 5 hours; even 5 minutes, if someone has the\nright to be released from detention, we must carry it out. Please\nexplain, Ma\u2019am, what the obstacle was that caused the delay in coming to\nTanjung Gusta?\u201d asked Habib.<\/p>\n
In response, Dante cited distance as the main constraint in the\nprocess.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the leader\u2019s permission, regarding the distance, because the\nexecuting prosecutor to the Medan District Court comes from Karo to\nMedan, which is approximately 2 hours, leader,\u201d answered Dante.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amsal-sitepu-case-karo-chief-prosecutor-secured-and-faces-potential-sanctions-1775645600", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }