Gowa Regent Reports Two Witnesses to National Police Over Defamation Claims
Two witnesses from the Special Committee (Pansus) hearing on the right of inquiry of the Gowa Regional People’s Representative Council (DPRD), identified by the initials ZA and AH, have been reported by Gowa Regent Sitti Husniah Talenrang to the Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police. The report concerns alleged defamation and the provision of false testimony. Sitti stated that the report was submitted together with her legal counsel to Bareskrim on Friday, 3 July 2026, as an effort to pursue legal channels.
“We are taking this legal action by filing a report with Bareskrim at the National Police Headquarters. Together with my legal counsel, I have reported the matter regarding defamation and false testimony by two witnesses with the initials ZA and AH,” she said on Sunday, 5 July 2026. She stated that the testimony of both individuals during the Gowa DPRD Pansus hearing on the right of inquiry did not align with the facts. Consequently, this has tarnished her reputation as a regional head.
She also confirmed that she has submitted several pieces of evidence to Bareskrim investigators. However, she was not yet willing to disclose the details of the evidence in question. “What is certain is that our report is supported by evidence, and this is what we have brought to the National Police Headquarters,” she said. Husniah emphasised that this legal step was taken to safeguard the good name of the regional government, the dignity of the regional head, and to ensure that the issue does not disrupt the administration of government in Gowa Regency.
Meanwhile, ZA, when contacted separately, stated that he respects the legal process pursued by Husniah and is prepared to provide information if required during the investigation process. “Whether or not there is a police report does not matter. What is clear is that we will follow the ongoing legal process,” he said. Regarding the testimony delivered during the Gowa DPRD Pansus hearing on the right of inquiry, ZA asserted that he conveyed information based on the material presented in the hearing and denied having directly stated that the figure in the video was the Gowa Regent. Meanwhile, AH, when contacted regarding the report, had not yet provided a response as of the time this news was published.
It was previously reported that Gowa Regent Husniah Talenrang spoke out regarding the Gowa DPRD special committee (Pansus) hearing on the right of inquiry related to an infidelity issue that implicated her name. The regent explained that she appreciated the work of the Gowa Regency DPRD in forming the Pansus.