Lawyer Togar Situmorang Faces 2.5-Year Prison Sentence for Defrauding Client of IDR 1.81 Billion
The Public Prosecutor’s Office (JPU) has sought a prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months for lawyer Togar Situmorang in connection with an alleged fraud case against his client, resulting in losses of approximately IDR 1.81 billion.
The charge was presented by prosecutor Ni Putu Evy Widhiani during a hearing at Denpasar District Court on Tuesday, 10 March 2026. Before a bench of judges chaired by H Sayuti, the prosecutor stated that Togar was proven beyond reasonable doubt to have committed fraud as defined under Article 492 of Law No. 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code, as amended by Law No. 1 of 2026 concerning Criminal Penalty Adjustment.
“To impose on the defendant a prison sentence of two years and six months, credited against time already served in detention, with an order that the defendant remain detained,” the prosecutor requested.
The case began when Fanny Lauren Christie became embroiled in a dispute over the Double View Mansions project in Pererenan, Badung, with an Italian national named Luca Simioni in May 2021.
Following legal proceedings, in August 2022 the Supreme Court (MA) issued a cassation decision requiring Fanny to pay tax obligations related to the project.
Following this decision, Togar Situmorang offered legal services to help resolve Fanny’s problems, requesting a fee of IDR 550 million. The client then provided an upfront payment of IDR 300 million in cash without a receipt, on the grounds that one would be issued later.
Subsequently, the client transferred funds multiple times to accounts of people close to Togar until the amount reached the agreed sum.
The prosecutor stated that Togar then convinced the client that the opposing party could be named a suspect, but requested additional funds totalling approximately IDR 1 billion.
On 26 August 2022, Togar, along with several others, visited the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the National Police (Bareskrim Polri) to file a report against Luca Simioni for alleged forgery, embezzlement, and money laundering.
The following day, Togar contacted the client via WhatsApp and requested that the client prepare additional funds of approximately IDR 1 billion, claiming the funds were necessary for Luca Simioni to be named a suspect.
However, according to the prosecutor, naming a suspect does not require payment, and the investigating officers at Bareskrim have never requested such funds. This statement was deemed part of a series of lies that induced the client to ultimately hand over money totalling approximately IDR 1.81 billion.
“The defendant’s actions caused the witness Fanny Lauren Christie to suffer losses of approximately IDR 1,810,000,000,” the prosecutor stated.
The prosecutor also noted that the defendant did not acknowledge his actions throughout the court proceedings.
Nevertheless, there were several mitigating factors, with the defendant deemed cooperative during the trial and behaving respectfully before the bench of judges.
Following the presentation of charges, the bench of judges granted the defendant the opportunity to present his defence statement or closing argument. The hearing was then adjourned and will continue on 31 March 2026 for the defendant’s closing argument.