Human Rights Minister Urges Police to Apply Restorative Justice in Pandji Pragiwaksono Case
JAKARTA — Human Rights Minister Natalius Pigai has urged the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Directorate (Bareskrim Polri) to employ a restorative justice approach in resolving the criminal case against comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono.
Pigai made this statement through his personal social media account on X on Saturday (28 February 2026). In his post, he emphasised that whilst the legal proceedings fall under police jurisdiction, law enforcement should be tempered with wisdom and justice reconciliation. He noted that Pragiwaksono has already experienced social punishment.
“The police should consider restorative justice, reminding [Pragiwaksono] that when exercising human rights regarding thought, feelings, and opinion in public discourse, one must not insult others through ad hominem attacks, nor make accusations against others without evidence and facts,” Pigai stated. “However, if the critique concerns policies and programmes aimed at achieving our collective goals and ideals, that is permissible.”
The Directorate of Cybercrime Offences (Dittipidsiber) at Bareskrim Polri has confirmed that the criminal investigation into Pragiwaksoko’s case remains active, notwithstanding his participation in a customary law hearing in Toraja, South Sulawesi.
Brigadier General Himawan Bayu Aji, Director of the Cybercrime Offences Directorate, reported that investigators continue to advance the case by examining witnesses and expert testimony. To date, 14 witnesses and 9 experts have been questioned, with the most recent examination involving administrators from Pragiwaksono’s accounts to supplement the investigation.
Regarding the customary law hearing Pragiwaksono underwent in Toraja, Himawan characterised it as part of living law — indigenous legal customs within the community. However, he clarified that this does not automatically halt the ongoing national legal proceedings, with both the customary law processes and national law investigation proceeding concurrently.
Pragiwaksono currently retains witness status in the investigation.