Before Withdrawing as Febrie Adriansyah's Lawyer, Here is the Defence Record That Sparked Public Attention
Hotman Paris Hutapea has officially resigned as the legal counsel for former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah. The decision was announced by Hotman on Thursday, 23 July 2026, citing health reasons. “I informed the client, Febrie Jampidsus, two days ago that I am withdrawing,” Hotman stated. He stressed that his resignation was unrelated to the case Febrie is facing, but rather due to concerns about his deteriorating health. “I told him, because of my health condition which could get worse, I have informed him I am withdrawing,” he added.
Although he only held the power of attorney since 17 July 2026, Hotman’s actions and statements while representing the former Jampidsus sparked various polemics. One of the key controversies was his claim that the case against Febrie was a form of criminalisation. From the outset, Hotman openly questioned the legal process, arguing that the investigation into his client was flawed and suggesting that the charges were an act of criminalisation against a prosecutor known for his achievements in combating corruption. This statement drew immediate attention as it contradicted the stance of the Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortastipidkor), which maintained that the suspect’s designation was based on evidence and proper legal mechanisms.
Another controversial statement arose when Hotman linked the case to President Prabowo Subianto. He claimed that Febrie was a figure the President was proud of for his role in saving state assets and recovering state losses in various cases. “I feel concerned because the Jampidsus is someone President Prabowo is proud of,” Hotman said when announcing his representation. This remark prompted a response from various quarters, with Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi urging that the legal process not be linked to the President, as the case Febrie faces is strictly a matter of law enforcement.