Acquittal for DPRD Member Mokris Lay in Neglect Case
Member of the Kupang City DPRD in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Mokrianus Imanuel Lay, has been acquitted by the panel of judges at the Kupang District Court. This verdict contrasts with the prosecutor’s earlier demand for a six-month prison sentence over allegations of neglecting his wife and two children.
The trial was presided over by Chief Judge Harlina Rayes, along with two members, Olyviarin Rosalinda Taopan and Sisera Semida Naomi Nenohayfeto. Mokris was represented by his legal counsel, Rian Kapitan and team.
“The defendant Mokrianus Imanuel Lay alias Mokris has not been proven guilty in a lawful and convincing manner under alternative charges one through three,” stated Harlina in her decision at the Kupang District Court on Tuesday (21/4/2026).
The judge ordered the Hanura Party politician to be immediately released from custody. “Restoring the defendant’s rights in recognition of his dignity and honour,” she emphasised.
The panel also clarified that there would be no appeal from the Public Prosecutors (JPU), referring to provisions in the new Criminal Procedure Code that do not allow appeals against acquittal decisions.
Hysteria After Acquittal
During the trial, Mokris appeared subdued and calm as proceedings unfolded. However, the atmosphere changed when the verdict was read.
Upon being declared not guilty, he became hysterical from the defendant’s bench. Mokris then shook hands with his legal team and the JPU before leaving the courtroom.
Charges Not Proven
Rian Kapitan, head of Mokris’s legal team, stated that the charges under Article 49 of the Domestic Violence Eradication Law (KDRT), Articles 76 and 77B of the Child Protection Law, and Article 428 of the new Criminal Code were not proven.
“This means the criminal act of neglect that has been accused against Mr Mokris could not be substantiated by the JPU,” Rian explained.
Prosecutors’ Demands
Previously, Mokrianus Imanuel Lay was demanded a six-month prison sentence by the JPU of the Kupang District Prosecutor’s Office. The demand was read during the trial at the Class 1A Kupang District Court on Tuesday (14/4/2026).
That session was also presided over by Chief Judge Harlina Rayes, with the same two members, Olyviarin Rosalinda Taopan and Sisera Semida Naomi Nenohayfeto.
JPU Syamsul stated that the Hanura Party politician had been proven guilty in a lawful and convincing manner of committing the criminal act of neglecting his wife and two children. Therefore, the defendant was demanded six months’ imprisonment, minus time served in detention.
“The defendant is demanded six months’ imprisonment for being proven to have committed the criminal act of neglecting his wife and child,” said the JPU in his statement on Tuesday.
The JPU assessed that Mokris’s actions fulfilled the elements of Article 49 letter a in conjunction with Article 9 paragraph (1) of Law No. 23 of 2024 on the Eradication of Domestic Violence (KDRT), in conjunction with Law No. 1 of 2026 on the Adaptation of the Criminal Code.
For his actions, the JPU also demanded that Mokris pay court costs of Rp 5,000.
“The next trial will be held on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, with the agenda of reading the defendant’s plea,” said the JPU.
Immediate Release from Detention
Following the verdict, Mokris was immediately executed for release from the Class IIB Kupang Detention Centre on Tuesday (21/4/2025) around 4:00 p.m. WITA.
“We took him home straight away around 4 p.m. We were still handling the administration at the Class IIB Kupang Detention Centre earlier,” Rian told detikBali.
Rian expressed thanks to the JPU for executing the court decision. He also touched on the legal process his client had undergone.
“But the JPU executed and freed Mr Mokris from the Class IIB Kupang Detention Centre so quickly. So there is balance,” Rian explained.
“For the police and prosecutors, do not just chase praise and then detain people with reasons that are actually not in accordance with procedural law,” emphasised the lecturer from the Faculty of Law at Artha Wacana Christian University (UKAW) in Kupang.
Currently, his team is still coordinating with Mokris regarding the possibility of filing a pre-trial motion to demand compensation.
“Indeed, there is a door in the form of pre-trial to demand compensation and other efforts, but we are still coordinating with Mr Mokris,” Rian concluded.
Political Status
Although acquitted criminally, Mokris’s fate as a member of the Kupang City DPRD is not entirely secure. The party court process is still ongoing.
Chairman of the Kupang City Hanura Party DPC, Erwin Gah, emphasised that the criminal process does not erase the internal party process.
“For organisational matters, it has been handed over to the party court and there have already been two hearings. So we are waiting for the party court decision. Because criminal matters are handled in court,” said Erwin.
According to him, the party court handles violations of ethics and morals, not criminal matters. Nevertheless, he still appreciated the acquittal.
“First of all, I congratulate Mr Mokris and his legal team on his freedom regarding the criminal issue faced by Mr Mokris,” he added.