Advocate Togar Situmorang has emphasised that he is pursuing an\nappeal after being sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in a fraud case. He\nis accused of deceiving his client. In a written statement, Togar\ninsisted that the matter is not final or legally binding because an\nappeal has been filed. \u2018This case is not final because I have filed an\nappeal. It would be premature to say I have been proven guilty while the\nlegal process is still ongoing,\u2019 Togar wrote in his response, Friday\n(22\/5\/2026).<\/p>\n
The statement also serves as Togar\u2019s reply to detikBali\u2019s report\ntitled \u2018Proven Fraud: Lawyer Togar Situmorang Given a 2.5-Year Prison\nSentence.\u2019 Togar objected to the wording \u2018proven\u2019 in both the headline\nand the content quoted by detikBali from the Denpasar District Court\njudge\u2019s ruling. Following the ruling, Togar lodged an appeal. Through\nhis response, he asked the media to publish clarifications in a\nproportionate and balanced manner and emphasised that the case is still\nbeing processed in the High Court.<\/p>\n
The case originated from a complaint by Fanni Lauren Christie\nregarding the handling of a dispute over the Double View Mansions\nproject in Pererenan, Badung. In the prosecutors\u2019 indictment, the victim\nreported losses of up to Rp1.81 billion after handing over funds to\nTogar for the handling of a legal matter involving an Italian national\nnamed Luca Simioni.<\/p>\n
The case began to be heard at Denpasar District Court in November\n2025. The Prosecutor General\u2019s Office charged Togar with the crime of\nfraud for allegedly promising to settle the legal matter, but the\npromised settlement was not completed.<\/p>\n
In March 2026, prosecutors demanded a prison sentence of 2 years and\n6 months for Togar Situmorang. They found that the element of fraud\nunder Article 378 of the Indonesian Criminal Code had been fulfilled and\nthat the defendant\u2019s actions caused the victim losses of around Rp1.81\nbillion.<\/p>\n
The Denpasar District Court bench, led by Judge H. Sayuti,\nsubsequently handed down a 2-year, 6-month sentence on 28 April 2026. In\nthe verdict, the judge stated that the defendant had been proven legally\nand convincingly guilty of fraud as charged by the prosecutors.<\/p>\n
In the reply letter, Togar also highlighted alleged irregularities\nduring the trial. He referred to alleged external interference through\nan amicus curiae document submitted by Daniar Trisasongko of LBH GP\nAnsor. He also mentioned alleged political interference by Bali\nelectoral district DPD assembly member Ni Luh Putu Ary Pertami\nDjelantik.<\/p>\n
\u2018I assess there was psychological pressure on the panel of judges\nthat could influence their independence and impartiality of the\nproceedings,\u2019 he added.<\/p>\n
Togar also denied that the advocate\u2019s honorarium he received could be\ncategorised as proceeds of fraud. He argued that the payments were part\nof legitimate professional legal services under the Advocates Law Number\n18 of 2003.<\/p>\n
\u2018An advocate\u2019s honorarium is a right protected by law, not proceeds\nof crime as interpreted in the ruling,\u2019 he asserted.<\/p>\n
In his reply, Togar emphasised that he continues to practise law\nprofessionally while representing client Fanni Lauren Christie. He noted\nseveral legal steps taken, from a report to the Criminal Investigation\nAgency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police believed to have\nprogressed to the investigation stage, the SP3 decision in Bali Police\n(Polda Bali) and Badung Resort Police (Polres Badung), to the\ndesignation of a suspect in a report to Bogor Police (Polres Bogor).<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/togar-situmorang-appeals-after-2-5-year-sentence-in-client-fraud-case-1779537383", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }