Hotman Paris's Kelapa Gading Office Besieged by Protesters

The office of Hotman Paris in the Kelapa Gading area of North Jakarta was besieged by a mass demonstration on Monday. The protesters were reacting to the controversial decision by the high-profile lawyer to defend Febrie Adriansyah, the former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes at the Attorney General’s Office.

The demonstration, held at the Hotman Paris & Partner law office in the Kensington complex on Jalan Boulevard Raya, was organised by a group calling themselves Aktivis Connection. Through a mobile command vehicle, the orators demanded that Hotman Paris issue a public clarification, particularly regarding statements he allegedly made that insulted the journalistic profession.

‘Hukum harus berdasarkan bukti, bukan pamer kekayaan dan sensasi,’ read one of the banners carried by the crowd, which translates to ‘Law must be based on evidence, not a display of wealth and sensation.’ Another banner urged the lawyer to uphold the law rather than defend corruptors.

Kombes Budi Hermanto, Head of Public Relations for the Metro Jaya Regional Police, confirmed the demonstration took place peacefully. He stated that 17 personnel from the Kelapa Gading Police were deployed to ensure the protest remained orderly and secure.