Denying 'Brownies' Intimidation to Amsal Sitepu, Attorney General's Office Gives Unexpected Response

The controversy surrounding the “brownies” in the case of Amsal Christy Sitepu has entered a new phase. Allegations of intimidation by prosecutors have been firmly denied by the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung), which states that the incident was actually part of a humanistic approach programme.

Head of the Legal Information Centre at Kejagung, Anang Supriatna, assured that there was no element of pressure as alleged. Clarification from the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office, he said, also stated the same.

“No. Intimidation means being pressured, under threat. According to the Chief Prosecutor’s admission, there was never any intimidation. There isn’t any,” he said, quoted on Tuesday, 31 March 2026.

The issue arose after Amsal claimed to have received a box of brownies from a prosecutor with a certain message. However, the Adhyaksa Corps emphasised that the giving was not a form of intimidation, but part of the “Humanistic Prosecutor” programme targeting all detainees.

“Regarding the giving of the cake, it’s just his programme as part of the humanistic prosecutor, not only for the person in question, several others were given it too,” he said.

According to Kejagung, the programme is an effort at persuasive engagement with detainees, not an intervention in the legal process. Although denying the accusations, Kejagung still leaves room for Amsal’s side to report if they have evidence of violations.

“But as long as there’s evidence, that’s it. If it’s done unprofessionally, there’s intimidation, whether through violence or whatever, if there’s evidence, just report it to Jamwas, to supervision,” he stated.

Previously reported, videographer from Karo Regency, Amsal Christy Sitepu, claimed to have been intimidated by a prosecutor during the legal process. Amsal is accused of marking up the budget for video production for 20 villages in Karo.

Prosecutors and auditors assessed that Amsal inflated the budget for several of his services, such as ideas, editing, and others. Amsal claimed to have been given a box of brownies containing a message not to publicise too much content on social media.

“In the legal process I’m currently undergoing, I once received intimidation directly from a prosecutor who gave me a box of chocolate brownies, with a message, he spoke directly to me in this detention centre, ‘just follow the flow. Don’t make a fuss, close those contents,’” Amsal said during a closed meeting with Commission III of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) on Monday, 30 March 2026.