Botok and Teguh Found Guilty by Pati District Court, But Prison Sentence Not to be Served

PATI, Central Java – The Pati District Court in Central Java has found two activists, Supriyono, alias Botok, and Teguh Istiyanto, guilty in a case of alleged incitement linked to a demonstration demanding the removal of former Pati Regent Sudewo. In the ruling delivered in the Cakra Chamber of the Pati District Court on Thursday, 5 March 2026, the panel of judges found the defendants guilty of violating Article 160 of the Indonesian Penal Code as reformed by Article 246 of the National Penal Code on incitement.

The hearing, which began at 10:30 a.m. and concluded around 2:30 p.m. WIB, was presided over by Chief Judge Muhammad Fauzan, with judges Wira Indra Bangsa and Muhammad Taofik. “Concluding the defendants Supriyono alias Botok and Teguh Istiyanto are guilty of jointly, orally inciting in public,” the presiding judge said while reading the verdict in Pati.

The panel sentenced them to six months in prison each. However, the sentence does not need to be served provided the defendants commit no further offences during the supervision period.

The panel also ordered that the defendants be released from detention immediately following the verdict and that all evidence be returned to the rightful owners.

The decision was attended by a number of figures and activists, including Inayah Wulandari Wahid, founder of Positive Movement and a member of the Gusdurian network; retired Police General (Rtd) Oegroseno, a native of Pati and former Deputy Chief of Police; Surabaya-based lawyer M. Sholeh; and Tiyo Ardianto, Chairman of the UGM Student Senate.

In addition, thousands of residents gathered near the court, carrying banners calling for the release of the two activists.