Hotman Paris Apologises to President Prabowo After Controversial Press Statement

Lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea has issued a public apology to President Prabowo Subianto following his controversial statements during a press conference last Friday. The apology was posted on his personal Instagram account on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.

In the video, Hotman addressed the President, the Attorney General, the National Police Chief, and the Metro Jaya Police Chief, asking for forgiveness if his words or actions during the press conference were deemed inappropriate. The press conference was held after the questioning of his client, former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah.

Hotman clarified that his remarks mentioning President Prabowo were made purely in his capacity as a defence lawyer. He stressed that there were no political motives behind his statement. “Whatever I said was purely from a legal advocacy perspective, with no political motivation or involvement whatsoever. It was purely my skill as a lawyer trying to protect my client legally,” he stated.

He reiterated his apology to President Prabowo, Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin, National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit, and Metro Jaya Police Chief Commissioner General Asep Edi Suheri. The controversy began when Hotman claimed during the Friday press conference that Febrie Adriansyah was a figure praised by President Prabowo for his intense efforts in eradicating corruption, but was now being criminalised.

On Monday, 20 July 2026, Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi responded on behalf of the Presidential Palace. He asserted that Hotman should not have involved the President’s name and expressed hope that the case against the former Jampidsus would be handled entirely by law enforcement officials. “We leave it to the legal process. Do not link it to the President. We fully return it to the applicable legal mechanisms,” Prasetyo told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Senayan, Jakarta.