Defacing the Red and White Flag: Two Youths Demanded Six Months in Prison
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (JPU) of the Jembrana District Prosecutor’s Office has demanded a six-month prison sentence for two young men, Kharisma Arai Cahya (24), alias Arai, and Kadek Andy Krisna Putra (26), alias Andy. They have been found guilty of tarnishing the honour of the Red and White flag with spray paint graffiti.
The demand was read out during the trial at the Negara District Court on Tuesday (6/5/2026). The Head of Criminal Section at the Jembrana District Prosecutor’s Office, I Wayan Adi Pranata, stated that both defendants were proven to have violated Article 234 in conjunction with Article 20 letter c of Law Number 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code.
“We demand that the defendants be sentenced to imprisonment of six months each, minus time served in detention, with an order for the defendants to be immediately detained,” Adi Pranata said when confirmed by detikBali on Tuesday.
In the indictment, the prosecutor outlined aggravating and mitigating factors. The actions of Arai and Andy were deemed to have disturbed the public by damaging a national symbol. However, the prosecutor also considered their cooperative attitude.
“Mitigating factors include the defendants regretting their actions, being young, promising not to repeat the offence, and having apologised in writing to the Jembrana Regency Government,” added Adi Pranata.
Regarding the evidence, one Red and White flag defaced with the writing ‘RKUHAP’ is requested to be returned to the Jembrana Regency Government. Meanwhile, tools used such as Pilox paint, clothing, and a flash drive containing video recordings are requested to be destroyed.
The case of desecrating the national symbol occurred on Tuesday night, 18 November 2025, around 11:00 p.m. WITA. The incident began when the two young men from Denpasar met to drink alcoholic beverages at the Negara Skateboard Park.
Under the influence of alcohol, they proceeded to Taman Pecangakan, right in front of the Jembrana Regent’s Office. At the location, Andy took the role of lowering the Red and White flag from its pole.
Subsequently, Arai defaced the flag using silver Pilox paint with the writing ‘RKUHAP’, modified to resemble an anarchy symbol. After being defaced, the flag was hoisted back up.
This act of vandalism was recorded by residents and went viral on social media, sparking public condemnation. Due to the graffiti, the Red and White flag was reported as damaged and unable to be flown again. The two were subsequently arrested by the police on 20 November 2025.