{
    "success": true,
    "data": {
        "id": 1643367,
        "msgid": "amsal-sitepu-claims-to-have-received-threats-shut-down-the-content-someone-is-disturbed-1774861303",
        "date": "2026-03-30 14:59:52",
        "title": "Amsal Sitepu Claims to Have Received Threats: 'Shut Down the Content, Someone Is Disturbed'",
        "author": "",
        "source": "CNN_ID",
        "tags": "",
        "topic": "Legal",
        "summary": "Videographer Amsal Sitepu, a defendant in a corruption case involving the production of village profile videos in North Sumatra's Karo Regency, has alleged intimidation by prosecutors during a parliamentary hearing. He recounted receiving a box of brownies from a prosecutor who urged him to comply with the trial process, avoid causing trouble, and stop posting content that was disturbing certain parties, though he vowed to fight back despite threats. The case, which involves alleged budget markups leading to state losses of over Rp200 million, highlights concerns over the criminalisation of creative workers and the need for fair enforcement of village finance regulations.",
        "content": "<p>Videographer Amsal Sitepu has revealed testimony regarding alleged\nintimidation he received from prosecutors in the suspected corruption\ncase concerning the production of a series of village profile videos in\nKaro Regency, North Sumatra.<\/p>\n<p>Amsal is the defendant in the case. He delivered this testimony on\nintimidation during a virtual appearance at an audience meeting in\nCommission III of the House of Representatives on Monday (30\/3).<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI must inform the leadership. In the legal process I am currently\nundergoing, I have experienced intimidation directly from the\nprosecutor,\u201d Amsal said, choking up during the meeting.<\/p>\n<p>He recounted that the alleged intimidation came via a box of brownies\ngiven to him by the prosecutor at Tanjung Gusta Detention Centre in\nMedan. When handing over the brownies, Amsal said, the prosecutor asked\nhim to follow the entire trial process and not cause any commotion.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe spoke directly to me here in the detention centre, \u2018just follow\nthe flow. Don\u2019t make a fuss. Shut down those contents. Someone is\ndisturbed\u2019,\u201d Amsal stated.<\/p>\n<p>However, he rejected the intimidation and affirmed that he would\ncontinue to fight. Amsal insisted that he is a victim of criminalisation\nfor an act he never committed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI said, no, I will still fight. Even though I know many people say\nyou will be buried. If you fight, you will be buried. But I said, I\u2019m\nnot afraid. Because I\u2019m not guilty,\u201d Amsal declared.<\/p>\n<p>He admitted that the alleged intimidation had also been mentioned in\nhis plea. Amsal emphasised that the law must be upheld to prevent\nsimilar cases from happening to other creative workers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI also raised that in my plea, the intimidation through the giving\nof chocolate brownies. I think the law in this world must be enforced,\nespecially for us creative economy workers,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>Amsal was demanded a two-year prison sentence on 20 February. In the\nprosecutor\u2019s indictment, Amsal was deemed to have committed a markup or\ninflation of funds after setting a budget of Rp30 million for the\nvillage profile series. Those funds came from the village budget.<\/p>\n<p>However, according to the prosecutor, that amount did not match the\nplanned budget cost (RAB).<\/p>\n<p>Amsal\u2019s project was deemed to violate Minister of Home Affairs\nRegulation Number 20 of 2018 on Village Financial Management, Article 2\nParagraph (1), which states that village finances must be managed based\non the principles of transparency, accountability, participation, and\ncarried out in an orderly and disciplined budgetary manner.<\/p>\n<p>A recent audit result indicated state financial losses from the\nalleged calculation of state financial losses amounting to\nRp202,161,980.<\/p>\n<p>The case is currently still in the trial process and will continue\nwith the verdict agenda scheduled for 1 April 2026.<\/p>",
        "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/amsal-sitepu-claims-to-have-received-threats-shut-down-the-content-someone-is-disturbed-1774861303",
        "image": ""
    },
    "sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
    "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}