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

Researcher from the Centre for Anti-Corruption Studies (SAKSI) at Mulawarman University, Herdiansyah Hamzah, has suggested that Hotman Paris Hutapea’s statement invoking President Prabowo Subianto in the case of former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah is a veiled attempt to seek protection. Herdiansyah, known as Castro, stated that the mention of Febrie as a source of pride for the President was a deliberate effort to highlight his past contributions in recovering state assets. ‘If we read Hotman’s statement, why did he drag the President’s name into it? Logically, Febrie Adriansyah would not have asked Hotman to speak like that unless there was an opportunity to seemingly whisper to the President, “Please save me”,’ Castro said on Monday. He added that framing Febrie’s track record and achievements was a clear instrument of political and legal bargaining, likely intended to soften the rigorous law enforcement process currently facing the former Jampidsus. Castro further opined that the emergence of such speculative narratives stemmed from President Prabowo’s lack of firmness since the case first surfaced. ‘Because from the outset, the President was not firm on this matter, so it eventually ran wild everywhere, including Hotman’s statement,’ the constitutional law expert asserted. Previously, Hotman Paris Hutapea had described Febrie Adriansyah as a source of pride for President Prabowo for successfully safeguarding state assets worth Rp430 trillion during his tenure. Hotman expressed dismay that his client had been named a suspect in the ASABRI corruption case, calling it a form of criminalisation. Meanwhile, the Central Executive Board of the Gerindra Party, through its spokesperson, has issued a reprimand to Hotman Paris, requesting that he focus on legal representation and refrain from involving President Prabowo’s name in the case’s defence material.