Gekrafs Breaks Silence After Videographer Amsal's Detention is Suspended

The Chairman of the National Creative Economy Movement (Gekrafs), Kawendra Lukistian, has responded to the suspension of detention for videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu by the Medan District Court. Kawendra described the decision as the result of prayers, struggles, and solidarity from creative economy fighters throughout Indonesia. The day before, Kawendra also attended a Public Hearing Meeting (RDPU) of the DPR RI’s Commission III to discuss the case. “This is the result of the spirit of creative economy fighters. When one creative economy fighter is wronged, everyone moves together. Today, we see that the voice of creative economy fighters is heard,” Kawendra said in a written statement on Tuesday (31/3). According to Kawendra, the suspension of Amsal’s detention serves as proof that public aspirations and the creative economy community can garner attention from the state. “Creative economy fighter friends from across Indonesia have united. This is not just about Amsal, but about upholding the dignity of the creative economy profession. We must not allow any more creative economy fighters to fear creating or partnering with the government,” he stated. He assessed that Amsal’s case has opened the eyes of many parties to the fact that creative professions such as videographers, editors, voice actors (dubbing), and concept creators are still often undervalued. “If ideas, editing, cutting, and dubbing are considered worth zero [rupiah], that insults the profession. Therefore, today’s suspension for Amsal becomes new inspiration that creative professions must also be respected,” he said. Kawendra stated that the suspension decision aligns with the spirit of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, who is promoting the creative economy as one of the new strengths of the national economy. “Pak Prabowo is very serious about building the creative economy. We must not let the President’s spirit to support creative economy fighters be undermined by unjust processes,” Kawendra remarked. It is known that the corruption case implicating videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu has drawn significant attention. Amsal was demanded to serve 2 years in prison for allegedly marking up the production of village profile videos in Karo Regency for the 2020-2022 Fiscal Years by Rp202,161,980. In the prosecution hearing at the Medan District Court, Prosecutor Wira Arizona stated that Amsal was proven to have inflated the budget (mark-up) in the village profile video project in Karo Regency for the 2020 to 2022 Fiscal Years. The prosecutor asked the panel of judges to impose a 2-year prison sentence on Amsal. In addition to the prison term, the defendant was also demanded to pay a fine of Rp50 million or face 3 months’ imprisonment as a subsidy. Furthermore, Amsal was burdened with repaying state losses amounting to Rp202,161,980. If not paid, it would be replaced with one year of imprisonment. The case of videographer Amsal Sitepu, accused of mark-up or budget inflation in the production of village profile videos, has also received attention from the DPR’s Commission III.