Noel's Legal Team Applies for House Arrest Status with KPK
The legal representative of former Deputy Minister of Manpower RI, Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan alias Noel, has stated that the application to change his client’s detention status to house arrest is still in process.
This was conveyed by his lawyer, San Salvator, when met at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court.
“Yes, it’s in process. What we’re striving for is equality before the law; we’re pursuing that,” said San Salvator ahead of the witness examination hearing on Monday (30/3).
He explained that the request was submitted based on legal considerations from their side, while the final decision remains under the authority of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) or the relevant parties.
“Regarding the authority exercised by the KPK with their considerations, we are handling our case with our own considerations. Whether it’s granted or not, we’ll see the policy and authority,” he continued.
San Salvator added that certainty on the application would soon be apparent in the near future.
“Well, we’ll see the process today whether it goes directly to the KPK,” he said.
Previously, Noel’s other legal representative, Aziz Yanuar, mentioned that this application for detention transfer also aims to test the consistency of law enforcement by the KPK.
According to Aziz, they want to see whether the principle of justice is truly applied, especially after a similar policy was once given to Yaqut Cholil Qoumas.
“We want to see if there’s justice in the law enforcement process,” he said.
The case of Yaqut Cholil Qoumas previously drew public attention after his detention status was changed from jail to house arrest in March 2026.
Yaqut was initially detained in the KPK’s detention centre on Thursday (12/3). However, on 19 March 2026, his detention status was changed to house arrest, considering his health condition and a family request to spend Eid at home.
That policy triggered widespread criticism from the public as it was seen to create an impression of special treatment. Amid the developing controversy, the KPK later revoked the policy and returned Yaqut to the detention centre on 24 March 2026.
This incident became one of the backgrounds highlighted by the legal team in submitting a similar request for their client.
In the case currently being tried, Noel is a defendant in an alleged extortion case related to the processing of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) certifications at the Ministry of Manpower.
The former Deputy Minister is accused of receiving gratuities and bribes totalling Rp3.36 billion as well as one Ducati Scrambler motorcycle. The case is now proceeding at the Central Jakarta Corruption Court and is awaiting further trial proceedings.