Hotman Paris Drags President Prabowo's Name into Febrie Adriansyah Case, Observer Says It's a Signal for Help

The Ministry of Religious Affairs seems beset by one problem after another.

Herdiansyah Hamzah, a researcher at Mulawarman University’s Anti-Corruption Study Centre (SAKSI), has assessed that statements by lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea invoking President Prabowo Subianto’s name in the case of former Attorney for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah carry a hidden motive. The narrative is suspected to be a signal seeking protection or special attention so that his client can escape legal jeopardy.

Herdiansyah, familiarly known as Castro, said the depiction of Febrie as a figure the President takes pride in was an attempt to “whisper” obliquely to be saved. According to him, it would be impossible for Hotman to make such remarks without intending to highlight Febrie’s past contributions to recovering state losses.

“If we read Hotman’s statement, why does he keep dragging in the President? Logically, Febrie Adriansyah would not have asked Hotman to speak like that unless there was space that, as it were, whispered to the President, ‘Please save me’,” Castro said when contacted on Monday (20 July).

Castro added that the framing of Febrie’s track record and achievements had been deliberately presented as an instrument of political and legal bargaining. This effort, he indicated strongly, was aimed at softening the firmness of the law enforcement currently under way against the former Jampidsus.

Furthermore, Castro argued that the emergence of wild speculation was a consequence of President Prabowo’s lack of firmness since the case first came to light.

“Because from the start the President was not firm on this matter, it ended up running wild in all directions, including Hotman’s statement,” asserted the constitutional law expert.

Previously, Hotman Paris Hutapea described Febrie Adriansyah as a source of pride for President Prabowo because he succeeded in saving state assets worth Rp430 trillion during his tenure. Hotman expressed regret that his client had been named a suspect in the ASABRI corruption case, calling it a form of criminalisation.

On the other hand, the Gerindra Party’s central executive board, through its spokesperson, has issued a reprimand to Hotman Paris. Gerindra asked Hotman to focus on providing legal assistance and not to involve President Prabowo’s name in the defence for the case.