Facts about the Karo District Prosecutor Spotlighted After the Amsal Sitepu Case Controversy

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) has recalled the Head of the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office, Dante Rajagukguk, along with several prosecutors handling the case of videographer Amsal Sitepu.

The AGO took this firm step following allegations of ethical code violations and unprofessionalism by the prosecutors after the court acquitted Amsal Sitepu.

Previously, Amsal Sitepu had been demanded a two-year prison sentence by the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office for alleged corruption in producing a village profile video in Karo Regency. However, the panel of judges declared Amsal not guilty and issued an acquittal verdict.

Irregularities in the handling of this case snowballed, sparking public attention up to the House of Representatives (DPR).

Here are a series of facts about Dante Rajagukguk amid the whirlpool of this case:

Recalled and internally examined by the AGO

The AGO has officially taken over the handling of the alleged ethical violations. The Head of the Legal Information Centre (Kapuspenkum) of the AGO, Anang Supriatna, confirmed that the Karo District Prosecutor along with her prosecutorial team has been recalled to the centre.

“Regarding the Karo District Prosecutor, the Head of Special Crimes Section, and the Deputy Section Heads or Public Prosecutors handling the case, they have currently been recalled to the Attorney General’s Office for clarification and will later be examined internally by the Attorney General’s Office,” said AGO Kapuspenkum Anang Supriatna to reporters on Sunday (5/4).

Furthermore, Anang stated that the AGO’s intelligence team has now secured the relevant prosecutors to undergo intensive internal examination.

“It is true that they have been secured by the Attorney General’s Office intelligence team. Clearly, they will later undergo clarification on whether the case handling was professional or not; we await the results of the clarification,” he said.

DPR demands the dismissal of the Karo District Prosecutor

A member of DPR RI Commission III from the PDIP Faction, I Wayan Sudirta, firmly demanded the dismissal of Dante Rajagukguk as Head of the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office.

In an audience meeting with Commission III of the DPR, Wayan highlighted fatal errors committed by the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office ranks. Therefore, he urged the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office (Kajati Sumut) to immediately take firm action.

“If I were the Kajati of North Sumatra, I would just transfer this District Prosecutor because the mistake is very fatal,” said Wayan in the meeting on Thursday (2/4).

According to Wayan, there are two serious violations committed by Dante. First, Dante is considered to have allowed the Public Prosecutors’ team (JPU) to prepare a very weak indictment, which ultimately led to Amsal’s acquittal.

Ironically, instead of acknowledging the negligence, Wayan said the Karo District Prosecutor continued to make excuses and refused to conduct self-evaluation.

Second, Dante is deemed to have been convoluted in processing the suspension of Amsal Sitepu’s detention, which had previously been recommended by Commission III of the DPR. Instead of granting the suspension as agreed, Dante twisted it into a transfer of detention.

“A District Prosecutor only understands suspension of detention alone cannot. I’m a bit confused, Mr Kajati, this is a District Prosecutor. Surely with long experience, surely knows what suspension of detention is. How could it be said as transfer of detention?” said Wayan.

In line with Wayan, another Commission III DPR member from the PDIP Faction, Safaruddin, also applied pressure. He urged the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office Head, Harli Siregar, not to hesitate in imposing severe sanctions on the Karo District Prosecutor and her subordinates who were proven negligent.

“The Karo District Prosecutor with all her apparatus who are guilty must be acted upon. Must be acted upon!” said Safaruddin.

Furthermore, Safaruddin warned that Dante’s actions not only risk administrative sanctions or dismissal but also could drag her into the criminal realm. This criminal potential arises because the Karo District Prosecutor is considered to have disobeyed and failed to comply with the judge’s panel orders.

Geographical excuse for delay in execution

The DPR also highlighted the slowness of the process to release Amsal Sitepu from Tanjung Gusta Detention Centre. The execution of the acquittal was deemed prolonged, taking around five hours after the judge’s verdict was read.

In response to the council’s criticism, Dante excused that geographical factors were the main obstacle. She stated that her team had to travel by land for about two hours from Karo Regency to Medan.

“With permission from the leadership, regarding the distance because the executing prosecutor to the Medan District Court came from Karo to Medan, approximately 2 hours, leadership,” replied Dante.

The first woman to serve as Karo District Prosecutor

Dante Rajagukguk was appointed as Head of the Karo District Prosecutor’s Office through decree Number Kep IV-1425 of 2025 dated 13 October 2025. The decree was signed by Deputy Attorney General for Development, Hendro Dewanto.

Dante Rajagukguk replaced Darwis Burhansyah, who received a new position as Head of the Tanjung Perak District Prosecutor’s Office, East Java.

Dante Rajagukguk was then inaugurated as Karo District Prosecutor by the North Sumatra High Prosecutor’s Office Head (Kajati Sumut), Harli Siregar. The inauguration took place at the Sumut Prosecutor’s Office Hall, Medan, on Wednesday, 5 November 2025.

Dante became the first woman to serve as Karo District Prosecutor. Previously, the position of Karo District Prosecutor was always led by men.

Dante’s assets minus 140 million in LHKPN

Based on the State Organiser’s Wealth Report (LHKPN) from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Dante’s total wealth is minus Rp140.4 million.

This was known from the report submitted by Dante to the KPK on 3 March 2026 as seen on the KPK’s e-LHKPN page.

“Total wealth: Rp-140,400,000,” quoted from the KPK’s e-LHKPN page.

Dante listed ownership of land measuring 6,400 square metres (m²) in Simalungun, which is self-acquired, valued at Rp192,000,000.

Dante also owns a Suzuki Grand Vitara Jeep asset from 2000, self-acquired, Rp240,000,000, and a Mazda 2 Minibus from 2010, joint-acquired.