Irvian Bobby Mahendro's Legal Team Submits Plea, Claims KPK's Charges Not Supported by Facts
The legal team of defendant Irvian Bobby Mahendro in the alleged extortion case concerning Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certificate management read their defence statement at the Jakarta Central Corruption Court on Tuesday (26 May 2026). They argued that the prosecution’s charges by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) did not fully align with the trial facts.
According to Irvian’s legal counsel, Risky Nugroho, the KPK’s six-year prison sentence demand overlooked several facts revealed during the trial. The team maintained their defence based on the trial evidence.
“At present, the prosecution’s demands still fail to account for certain facts that were not fully presented or considered,” he stated.
In their plea, the defence argued that Irvian was not the main perpetrator but a victim of a long-standing system within the Ministry of Manpower. They stated that “non-technical” fees from Occupational Safety and Health Service Companies (PJK3) had become deeply entrenched long before Irvian’s tenure, and his role was merely as a subordinate following structural procedures under superior orders.
Furthermore, the legal team disputed the Rp60.3 billion restitution claim, asserting it did not match trial facts. They claimed the money was not personally enjoyed by Irvian but used for office operations and distributed to ministry officials.
“It is highly unfair to place all the blame for superiors’ actions on a single subordinate,” the defence stated.
Hervan Dewantara, head of Irvian’s legal team, accused the KPK prosecution of a critical error in double-counting the funds. He explained that prosecutors counted money received by intermediaries as the first receipt, then again when transferred to Irvian’s personal account.
“This elementary mistake has inflated the restitution demand by over Rp23.8 billion,” Hervan said.
He argued that the law should not be used to assign systemic failures to one individual. The legal team urged the court to deliver an objective and fair verdict.
“We request that defendant Irvian Bobby Mahendro be judged fairly, released from unreasonable restitution demands, and spared from being the sole scapegoat for systemic corruption within the ministry,” Risky Nugroho said.
Previously, the KPK prosecution had demanded a six-year prison sentence for Irvian, along with a fine of Rp250 million or 90 days’ imprisonment in default of payment and restitution of Rp60.3 billion or two years’ imprisonment in default of payment in the alleged extortion case related to K3 certificates within the Ministry of Manpower.
During the trial, prosecutors stated that Noel received funds from two categories: a Rp1 billion bribe and Rp3.435 billion in gratifications.