House Commission III Praises Judge's Decision to Acquit Amsal Sitepu
Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Commission III, Habiburokhman, has extended his highest appreciation to the panel of judges at the Medan District Court for issuing a not guilty verdict to videographer Amsal Sitepu on Wednesday (1/4/2026). Habiburokhman described the decision as a form of societal justice, especially for creative workers in Indonesia.
“First and foremost, we wish to convey our utmost appreciation to the panel of judges at the Medan District Court for acquitting Mr Amsal Sitepu just a few hours ago. This case has captured significant public attention because Amsal Sitepu, a videographer, was carrying out his professional duties when he was charged under anti-corruption articles with ratios that society could not accept,” stated Habiburokhman at the parliamentary complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday (1/4).
Habiburokhman revealed that Commission III of the House of Representatives had been closely monitoring the case from the outset. He noted that commission member Hinca Pandjaitan had specifically overseen the proceedings in Medan until the acquittal was handed down. Even the House leadership intervened to ensure the legal process was fair for Amsal.
“This has certainly been a concern for all creative workers and our young people. Commission III responded yesterday by holding a special working meeting attended by the commission’s leadership. In that special working meeting, we proposed a suspension of detention, signed directly by Mr Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, and sent it to Medan,” he explained.
The Gerindra Party politician emphasised that the panel of judges had fulfilled its role well in accordance with the mandate of the Judicial Power Law by uncovering societal notions of justice. According to him, equating creative work with physical goods is a logical error in law.
“That is what society has conveyed: creative work differs from the procurement of physical goods, which have standard base prices. Creative work has a subjective value, and based on agreements, the agreed price emerges,” Habiburokhman asserted.
Previously, the panel of judges at the Medan District Court issued a not guilty verdict for videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu on Wednesday (1/4). Amsal was found not guilty of marking up the production of a village profile video in Karo Regency for the 2020-2022 fiscal year by Rp202,161,980.
“Ruling: Declares the defendant Amsal not proven guilty in a lawful and convincing manner of the acts as charged in the primary and subsidiary indictments of the public prosecutor,” stated the panel of judges chaired by Mohammad Yusafrihardi Girsang.