Amsal Sitepu Explains the Chronology of Alleged Mark-Up and Video Production
Videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu has questioned the corruption case involving village profile videos in Karo Regency, North Sumatra, which has ensnared him. He conveyed this during a public hearing at the House of Representatives Commission III on Monday (30/3).
Amsal believes that, as a professional service provider, he only offered a proposal, and if the proposed price was deemed unsuitable or too expensive, the village government should have rejected it from the outset, rather than prosecuting him after the work was completed.
This was expressed by Amsal while recounting the irregularities in the legal process that befell him. He emphasised that his position was merely that of a creative economy worker offering his work, not someone with authority over the budget.
“I am just seeking justice, Sir. I am just an ordinary creative economy worker, Sir. I have no authority over the budget, Sir. Simply put, I am just selling. If the price was indeed too high, why not reject it outright, or if it was unsuitable, why pay it? There is no need to imprison me,” Amsal stated during his virtual appearance at the Public Hearing (RDPU) in Commission III of the House of Representatives on Monday (30/3).
Amsal expressed his confusion over the findings in the Examination Results Report (LHP) that led to the mark-up allegations. According to him, the alleged state losses arose because the auditors and Public Prosecutors unilaterally rejected or nullified the economic value of several creative work items in his proposal.
He detailed several components that the auditors valued at zero rupiah, including the cost of ideas worth Rp2 million, editing Rp1 million, cutting Rp1 million, and dubbing Rp1 million.
Furthermore, Amsal claimed that based on the testimony of the village head presented by the Public Prosecutors, nothing incriminated him.
“They stated they were satisfied with the results of this work. Because in these 20 villages, Sir, my team and I went directly, I always joined, Sir. I always participated in this work,” he said.
Amsal, who admitted to undertaking this project during the 2020 pandemic to make ends meet, feels criminalised for his hard work in promoting the local wisdom of the Karo Land. He worries that this case will make the younger generation in the creative industry afraid to collaborate with government agencies.
He also highlighted the procedure for designating him as a suspect in November 2025, which he deems premature. Amsal claims he was never examined even once by the Karo Regency Inspectorate before being thrown into prison.
“I am just seeking justice. I love the Karo Land very much, but if things like this happen, young creative economy workers in Indonesia will be afraid to work with the government,” he concluded.