The administrator of comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono\u2019s YouTube channel,\nidentified by the initials SB, was questioned by the Cyber Crime\nDirectorate (Dittipidsiber) of the Criminal Investigation Bureau\n(Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police today. SB was examined in\nconnection with content on Pandji\u2019s YouTube channel that allegedly\ninsulted Toraja customary practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have conducted an examination of SB in his capacity as the\nadministrator of the YouTube channel in question. This examination is a\nfollow-up to a public complaint regarding the alleged criminal offence\nof defamation through electronic media,\u201d said Deputy Director I of\nDittipidsiber Bareskrim, Commissioner Rizki Prakoso, to reporters on\nThursday (19\/2\/2026).<\/p>\n
SB was questioned as the administrator who uploaded the video content\nallegedly insulting Toraja customs to Pandji\u2019s YouTube channel. The\ncontent was uploaded on 8 June 2021.<\/p>\n
In his testimony, SB stated that the Toraja customary content was\nuploaded to the YouTube channel under the direction of Pandji\nPragiwaksono. SB told investigators that he had been working for Pandji\nPragiwaksono since 2010.<\/p>\n
\u201cBased on the witness\u2019s testimony, the editing process, narration\nwriting, description, and upload schedule were all carried out by the\nindividual concerned under the instruction and direction of the channel\nowner,\u201d Rizki explained.<\/p>\n
SB was asked 33 questions related to the video editing process, the\nprovision of narration and content descriptions, and the determination\nof the upload schedule. SB was examined at the Bareskrim headquarters in\nSouth Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Rizki emphasised that investigators are continuing to probe the case\nby gathering evidence and additional testimony. He stressed that his\noffice prioritises professionalism and transparency in handling every\npublic complaint.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe investigation process is still ongoing. We prioritise\nprofessionalism and transparency in handling every public complaint,\u201d he\naffirmed.<\/p>\n
Previously, Pandji was reported by the Toraja Youth Alliance to\nBareskrim after one of his stand-up comedy routines was deemed to have\ninsulted Toraja customs. In his comedy material, Pandji discussed\nfuneral processions in the Toraja community.<\/p>\n
Pandji himself was also examined on Monday (2\/2). The case has\nentered the formal investigation stage.<\/p>\n
The material that has now become controversial was originally part of\nPandji\u2019s stand-up comedy performance in 2013. During that show, Pandji\ntouched upon the high costs that must be borne when conducting funerals\naccording to Toraja custom.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Toraja, and some of you surely know this, when a family member\ndies, the funeral involves an extremely expensive ceremony. Am I right?\nIn fact, many Toraja people are driven into poverty after holding a\nfuneral ceremony for their family, and many who cannot afford it simply\nleave the body as it is,\u201d Pandji said in a video excerpt viewed on\nTuesday (4\/11\/2025).<\/p>\n
Pandji then continued his routine by stating that Toraja people who\ncannot afford to bury their deceased family members will keep the body\nin the house.<\/p>\n
Pandji then employed impersonation, a stand-up comedy technique in\nwhich a comedian mimics another person or character. In this segment,\nPandji positioned himself as a foreigner visiting a Toraja household and\ndiscovering a corpse in the living room.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a common practice \u2014 say a family member has died and they\ndon\u2019t have the money, the body is just placed in the living room. For\nthe family of the deceased, this is perfectly normal, but imagine how\nconfused a visitor would be,\u201d Pandji said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWatching anything on television would feel like a horror film.\nWatching Teletubbies would be terrifying. That Tinky Winky jumping\naround with the antenna on top would be scary,\u201d Pandji quipped while\nperforming his impersonation.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/toraja-customary-joke-controversy-criminal-investigation-bureau-questions-youtube-admin-of-comedian-pandji-1771627150", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }