Pekalongan Regent Fadia Admits Not Understanding the Law Because She Is a Dangdut Singer — Can a Regional Leader Use Such an Excuse?

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - In the examination process of a case of alleged corruption involving Pekalongan Regent Fadia Arafiq, a narrative has emerged that she does not understand the law or bureaucratic governance because of her background as a musician. The statement surfaced amid investigations by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) into alleged outsourcing service procurement and other purchases within Pekalongan Regency for Budget Year 2023–2026. The argument about background in profession is, from a legal perspective, not without foundation. The law recognises a fundamental principle called presumptio iures de iure, commonly understood as the principle of legal fiction. This principle states that every person is presumed to know the applicable law. Consequently, ignorance of rules, regardless of educational or professional background, cannot be used as a reason to evade legal accountability. Erwin Natosmal Oemar, Deputy Secretary-General of the Central Executive Board of the Indonesian Advocates Association (IKADIN), explained that this principle is identical to the principle of legal fiction.