Funder of Siwalan Party Gay Event in Surabaya Faces One-Year Prison Sentence

One of the defendants in the gay party case, Mochamad Ridwan, alias Ardi, has been prosecuted with a one-year prison sentence. He is found to have acted as the organiser or funder of the “Siwalan Party,” a gay event held in Surabaya.

“I respectfully request that the Presiding Judge impose a one-year prison sentence on the defendant Mochamad Ridwan, alias Ardi, with credit given for time already served in detention,” said Deddy whilst reading the prosecution’s charge sheet at Surabaya District Court on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.

Deddy stated that Ardi met the elements of the criminal offence of funding, facilitating, or providing pornography. Accordingly, he is charged with violating Article 33 in conjunction with Article 7 of Republic of Indonesia Law Number 44 of 2008 concerning Pornography.

The defendant’s legal counsel, Yoshua Cahyono, responded to the prosecution’s charges. In his closing argument presented with his team, he stated that the defendant had submitted an apology and a confession of guilt, or plea bargaining, regarding the acts alleged by the prosecution.

Yoshua explained that his client initially only joined as an ordinary participant in the “top” category. According to his account, his client did not understand that the money transferred was then considered as financing for the activity.

“Initially, our client was merely an ordinary participant with the position of”top” participant. However, due to persuasion and promises of profit from the main administrator, our client was subsequently asked to transfer a sum of funds,” Yoshua stated.