Creative Services Guidelines Drafted to Prevent Recurrence of Amsal Case

The Ministry of Creative Economy is preparing guidelines in the creative services sector after videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu was accused of inflating the costs of producing profile videos for 20 villages in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. Creative Economy Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya said the drafting involves stakeholders, including creative industry players. “Particularly with related associations and communities to serve as a reference to prevent similar problems in the future,” Riefky stated during a press conference on Monday, 30 March 2026. Riefky said his ministry is also monitoring the case currently underway at the Corruption Court at the Medan District Court. According to him, creative services procurement has different characteristics compared to goods procurement. However, the reasonableness of the Estimated Own Price (HPS) for Creative Services must be carried out objectively and based on an understanding of the creative industry. The Ministry of Creative Economy will facilitate dialogue spaces for all creative industry practitioners in resolving ecosystem issues that occur. “Through public services or requests for information and complaints on the ppid.ekraf.go.id channel,” Riefky said. In the indictment, the public prosecutor charged Amsal Sitepu with inflating funds or mark-up in the Budget Cost Plan (RAB) for village profile video production services. He set the service price at Rp 30 million per village, but a report from the audit results by the Karo Regency Regional Inspectorate on 13 November 2025 stated there was a state loss of Rp 202,161,980 due to the video production. During a Public Hearing at Commission III of the DPR RI, Amsal hoped that no one else would suffer the same fate due to such criminalisation. He stated he is not afraid despite threats because no wrongdoing was committed from the project that has been completed. “I am proud of my work as a creative economy worker,” he said during the online meeting.