Jakarta, VIVA \u2013 The Press Council has gathered information regarding\nan incident deemed demeaning to the journalism profession during a press\nconference held by lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea at the Junior Attorney\nGeneral for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) building at the Attorney\nGeneral\u2019s Office (Kejagung) in Jakarta on Friday, 17 July 2026.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred after Hotman Paris accompanied his client,\nFebrie Adriansyah, who was being questioned as a suspect in an alleged\ncorruption and money laundering case involving PT Asabri.<\/p>\n
During the question-and-answer session, a journalist asked whether\nFebrie Adriansyah, a former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes,\nfelt he was being criminalised in the case. In response, Hotman Paris\nreplied: \u201cWhat do you think? Do you even have a brain?\u201d<\/p>\n
In response to the incident, the Press Council issued an official\nstatement on Monday, 20 July 2026. Press Council Chairman Komaruddin\nHidayat conveyed three points. First, the Press Council regretted the\nmanner in which Hotman Paris answered the journalist\u2019s question, as it\nwas considered demeaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cDisagreement with or displeasure at a journalist\u2019s question should\nbe addressed in a more rational and civilised manner,\u201d said\nKomaruddin.<\/p>\n
Second, the Press Council called on all parties to respect\njournalists carrying out their journalistic duties. According to\nKomaruddin, questions posed by journalists form part of the process of\nseeking information and obtaining statements from sources, as protected\nunder Article 4 paragraph (3) of Law Number 40 of 1999 on the Press.<\/p>\n
He added that journalistic work is also part of the fulfilment of the\npress\u2019s function as regulated in Article 6 of the Press Law, which\nincludes fulfilling the public\u2019s right to information, upholding\ndemocratic values, the rule of law and human rights, developing public\nopinion based on accurate information, carrying out oversight and\ncriticism in the public interest, and fighting for justice and\ntruth.<\/p>\n
Third, the Press Council reminded all journalists to continue to\nadhere to the Press Law and the Journalistic Code of Ethics in carrying\nout their profession.<\/p>\n
Earlier, Hotman officially became legal counsel for Febrie Adriansyah\non Friday, 17 July 2026. At that time, Febrie was undergoing questioning\nafter his case was transferred from the National Police\u2019s Corruption and\nOther Specific Crimes Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor) to the Attorney\nGeneral\u2019s Office.<\/p>\n
After the questioning, Hotman Paris held a press conference and\nanswered a number of questions from journalists regarding the case\ninvolving his client. One question concerning the alleged\ncriminalisation of Febrie was answered with a statement that\nsubsequently drew public scrutiny.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/press-council-regrets-hotman-pariss-remarks-belittling-journalists-should-be-responded-to-more-civilly-1784523104", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }