Hotman Paris Apologises After Belittling Journalists, Faces Police Report

Lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea, who represents a suspect in a corruption case involving a former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, has apologised to journalists and all press organisations for statements deemed to belittle the journalistic profession. Hotman’s remarks, which included asking a journalist ‘do you have a brain or not?’, telling them to ‘shut up’, and labelling them a ‘coward’ for not questioning the National Police Headquarters, were made during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office on Friday (17/7) and drew sharp criticism. In a video posted to his Instagram account, Hotman said: ‘A statement of apology from me, Hotman Paris. In connection with the appeal from the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and fellow journalists, I hereby apologise profusely for my statement during the press conference on the former Jampidsus case where I said, “do you have a brain or not?”’ He explained that the outburst occurred while he was emotional after being bombarded with two consecutive questions, the first regarding an alleged hidden agenda from an institution in the Febrie case, which he had repeatedly stated he was unable to answer. Despite his apology, the PWI has pursued legal action, reporting Hotman to the Polda Metro Jaya for alleged criminal insult under Article 242 of the new Criminal Code. The report was filed on Monday (20/7) and registered under number LP/B/5291/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA. PWI’s Director of Anti-Violence against Journalists, Edison Siahaan, stated that the incident had hurt and offended the journalistic profession, prompting the organisation to take legal steps.