Hotman Paris Reported Again Over Alleged Insult to Journalists

Lawyer Hotman Paris has been reported to the Polda Metro Jaya again following his statements during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office in South Jakarta last weekend. This time, the report was filed by the Indonesian Independent Media Online organisation. The report was lodged on Monday and registered under number LP/B/5298/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA.

"We assess that Hotman Paris’s statements in a public space directed at journalists demonstrated a demeaning and insulting attitude towards the journalistic profession," said MIO Indonesia Chairman Asep Yusuf Setyabudi Prayogie at Polda Metro Jaya on Tuesday. Asep stressed that the report was made to defend the dignity of the journalistic profession, not to stifle freedom of expression. "This report was not born out of personal issues, nor is it an attempt to silence someone from expressing an opinion. MIO Indonesia stands to defend the honour of the journalistic profession, press freedom, and respect for journalistic work guaranteed by the constitution and Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press," he stated.

Asep further argued that Hotman’s remarks were not criticism but had demeaned the journalistic profession, potentially building a negative stigma against journalists in the public sphere. "Journalists are portrayed as a profession that does not understand the law, lacks intellectual capacity, and is unfit to carry out journalistic duties if they disagree with a source," he said. In the report, Hotman is accused of violating Articles 433, 436, and 441 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, as well as Article 18 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 4 paragraphs (2) and (3) of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press. "We fully entrust the legal process to the Polda Metro Jaya investigators," Asep added.

Previously, the Indonesian Journalists Association had also reported Hotman Paris to Polda Metro Jaya, with the report registered under number LP/B/5291/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA. In that report, PWI accused Hotman of alleged criminal insult as stipulated in Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code. The controversial remarks were made during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office on Friday. Various journalist organisations in Indonesia have strongly condemned Hotman Paris for his perceived arrogance and for demeaning the dignity of journalists. The incident began when Hotman was speaking on behalf of his client, former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes Febrie Adriansyah, who is a suspect in a corruption case. Instead of responding professionally, Hotman reacted to journalists’ questions with words considered insulting and intimidating, including asking a journalist if they had a brain, telling them to shut up and ask their grandfather, and labelling journalists as cowards for not questioning the National Police Headquarters. Following the backlash, Hotman issued an apology to journalists and all journalist organisations via a video posted on his Instagram account.