GNK Criticises Hotman Paris: Do Not Drag the President's Name into Defending Febrie

The initiator of the Gerakan Nurani Kebangsaan (GNK), Habib Syakur Ali Mahdi Al Hamid, has criticised lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea’s statement linking the legal process against Febrie Adriansyah to President Prabowo Subianto. He assessed that there is no correlation between the naming of a suspect and the President’s dignity or permission. ‘Do not drag President Prabowo’s name into defending a client. There is no correlation between the legal process faced by Febrie Adriansyah and the President’s dignity. In fact, the President’s dignity will be better preserved if the people around him are clean from corruption allegations,’ Habib Syakur said in a statement on Sunday (19/7/2026). Habib Syakur believes the narrative presented by Hotman Paris could potentially create a negative perception of the government. He does not want any assumption to arise that the state is protecting someone entangled in a legal case. ‘If there is a narrative that naming Febrie as a suspect embarrasses the President, it actually thickens public suspicion as if the President is protecting an alleged corruptor. I am sure that is not President Prabowo’s stance,’ he said. He stressed that eradicating corruption should be seen as an effort to maintain the integrity of the government, not as an attack on the President’s authority. According to him, the public will respect the President more if law enforcement officers are given space to work professionally without intervention, including in handling cases involving high-ranking officials. ‘The President will actually be respected when he does not interfere in the legal process. If an aide or close associate is suspected of violating the law, let the legal mechanism run its course. That will strengthen public trust in the President,’ he said. He also requested the palace to clarify the circulating rumours. Thus, he continued, the case of Febrie Adriansyah will become clear without any impression of objection from the government. ‘I ask the Palace to immediately clarify Hotman Paris’s statement. Do not let an impression arise that the President objects to the legal process against anyone. If the Palace chooses to remain silent, the public will certainly build their own various perceptions,’ he said. Previously, Hotman claimed the case ensnaring Febrie was a criminalisation. He even admitted he did not expect any money from Febrie, who is his client. ‘I do not expect money from this Jampidsus because I know it is impossible for him to pay me; it’s expensive. My fees are super expensive in Indonesia,’ Hotman told the media at the Attorney General’s Office (Kejagung) Round Building in South Jakarta on Friday (17/7) evening. Hotman then revealed his reason for stepping in to defend Febrie. He invoked the name of President Prabowo Subianto, whom he claimed as his loyal client for decades. ‘Remember, I was Prabowo’s lawyer for 25 years. All his major cases, including his brother Mr. Hashim’s, I handled. I was often asked for legal assistance even when he was Minister of Defence, without pay,’ Hotman revealed. Because of this, he admitted to feeling concerned seeing Febrie’s current situation. For him, Febrie is an accomplished figure who is the pride of President Prabowo for successfully recovering state assets in fantastic amounts. ‘The Jampidsus is someone President Prabowo is proud of. He achieved the return of state losses of Rp 130 trillion, plus the PKH Task Force of Rp 300 trillion. A total of Rp 430 trillion returned to the state. Imagine, a person who is the President’s pride suddenly being criminalised without the President’s permission,’ he remarked.