Kupang DPRD Member Acquitted in Wife and Child Neglect Case

A member of the Kupang City DPRD in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Mokrianus Imanuel Lay, was acquitted by the panel of judges at the Kupang District Court. Mokris was found not guilty of neglecting his wife and two children as alleged by the prosecutor. The trial was presided over by Chief Judge Harlina Rayes along with two members, Olyviarin Rosalinda Taopan and Sisera Semida Naomi Nenohayfeto. Mokris was assisted by his legal counsel, Rian Kapitan and team. “The defendant Mokrianus Imanuel Lay alias Mokris has not been legally and convincingly proven under alternative charges one through three,” stated the panel of judges during the hearing on Tuesday (21/4/2026). The judge ordered the Hanura Party politician to be immediately released from detention. “Restoring the defendant’s rights for the recognition of his dignity and honour,” she emphasised. Following the reading of the verdict, the panel also confirmed that there would be no appeal from the Public Prosecutor (JPU). This refers to the provisions of the new Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP) which do not allow appeals against acquittal decisions. During the trial, Mokris appeared bowed and calm. When declared not guilty, he became hysterical from the defendant’s bench, then shook hands with his legal team and the JPU before leaving the courtroom. The head of Mokris’s advocacy team, Rian Kapitan, stated that the charges under Article 49 of the Domestic Violence Eradication Law (UU KDRT), Articles 76 and 77B of the Child Protection Law, and Article 428 of the new Criminal Code were not proven. “This means that the criminal act of neglect that has been accused against Mr Mokris could not be proven by the JPU,” explained Rian. Previously, Mokrianus Imanuel Lay was demanded a six-month prison sentence by the JPU of the Kupang District Prosecutor’s Office (Kejari). The demand was read during the hearing at the Class 1A Kupang District Court on Tuesday (14/4/2026). The hearing at that time was also presided over by Chief Judge Harlina Rayes along with two members, Olyviarin Rosalinda Taopan and Sisera Semida Naomi Nenohayfeto. JPU Syamsul stated that the Hanura Party politician had been legally and convincingly proven to have committed the criminal act of neglecting his wife and two children. Therefore, the defendant was demanded a six-month prison sentence, minus time served in detention. “The defendant is demanded a six-month prison sentence for being proven to have committed the criminal act of neglecting his wife and child,” said the JPU in his statement on Tuesday. The JPU assessed that Mokris’s actions fulfilled the elements of Article 49 letter a in conjunction with Article 9 paragraph (1) of Law Number 23 of 2024 on the Eradication of Domestic Violence (KDRT), in conjunction with Law Number 1 of 2026 on the Adjustment of the Criminal Code. For his actions, the JPU also demanded that Mokris pay court costs of Rp 5,000. “The next hearing will be held on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, with the agenda of reading the defendant’s defence (plea),” said the JPU.