Attorney General's Office Denies Intimidating Amsal Sitepu Through Brownies: It's a Humanistic Programme
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has denied intimidating the defendant in the markup case of producing village profile videos in Karo, North Sumatra, Amsal Christy Sitepu.
Head of the AGO’s Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, stated that the brownies given by the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office (Kejari) were not exclusively for Amsal.
“It’s not intimidation, pressure, or under threat. According to the Karo Chief Prosecutor’s statement, there was never any intimidation. None,” he told reporters on Tuesday (31/3).
Anang explained that the brownies were part of the Humanistic Prosecutor programme being implemented by Kejari Karo. He noted that all detainees in the detention centre received food, including Amsal Sitepu.
“Regarding the brownies, it’s their programme under the humanistic prosecutor initiative; not just for the individual, but several detainees received them,” he said.
Nevertheless, Anang invited Amsal’s side to report any perceived intimidation by prosecutors. He said such reports would be processed through the AGO’s supervision directorate.
“If it’s unprofessional, involving intimidation—whether through violence or otherwise—if there’s evidence, just report it to Jamwas, the supervision unit,” he clarified.
Previously, videographer Amsal Sitepu revealed testimony about alleged intimidation he received from prosecutors in the suspected corruption case of producing a series of village profile videos in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.
The alleged intimidation came via chocolate brownies given by prosecutors at Tanjung Gusta Detention Centre in Medan. When giving the brownies, according to Amsal, the prosecutor asked him to follow the entire trial process and avoid causing a fuss.
“He spoke directly to me in this detention centre, ‘Just follow the flow. No need to make a scene. Close those contents. Someone is disturbed,’” Amsal said.
However, he rejected the intimidation and affirmed he would continue to fight. Amsal emphasised that he is a victim of criminalisation for an act he never committed.
“I said no, I will still fight. Even though I know many people say you’ll be buried. If you fight, you’ll be buried. But I said, I’m not afraid. Because I’m not guilty,” Amsal stated.
Amsal was demanded two years in prison on 20 February. In the prosecutor’s indictment, he is deemed to have committed markup or inflation of funds after setting the budget at Rp30 million for the village profile series. Those funds came from village funds.
The case is currently in the trial process and will continue with the verdict agenda on 1 April 2026.