Police Investigate Two Reports from PWI and MIO in Journalist Insult Case
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Polda Metro Jaya stated that it is still examining two public reports filed respectively by the Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI) and Media Independen Online (MIO) concerning a case in which a lawyer with the initials HP allegedly insulted journalists.
Head of Public Relations at Polda Metro Jaya, Chief Commissioner Budi Hermanto, said the two reports are currently being handled by two separate directorates according to the nature of the alleged criminal offences reported.
“So, there are two reports received by Polda Metro Jaya. The PWI report is being handled by the Cyber Directorate, whilst the MIO report is being handled by the General Criminal Investigation Directorate,” he said when met after a press conference in Jakarta on Friday.
Police are currently carrying out verification and preliminary examination of the material contained in the reports received.
“The initial stage focuses on gathering statements from the complainants, supporting witnesses, and reviewing the evidence submitted,” he said.
Once the preliminary examination is deemed sufficient, investigators will move on to consultations and examination of expert witnesses, ranging from linguistics experts to experts on the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.
“Certainly, during the reporting process we will examine the complainants, witnesses and evidence. After that, we move to the expert witness stage, whether that is a linguistics expert or one on the ITE Law, and only then will we schedule summoning the person reported. So there are stages,” said Budi.
Previously, the central leadership of the Persatuan Wartawan Indonesia (PWI) visited the Integrated Police Service Centre (SPKT) at Polda Metro Jaya to report the lawyer with the initials HP, who is suspected of insulting and demeaning the journalistic profession based on a video upload that went viral on social media.
Director of Anti-Violence Against Journalists at PWI Central, Edison Siahaan, said the legal step was taken because the reported party’s remarks had hurt press workers and wounded the dignity of the journalistic profession broadly.
The report was received under number LP/B/5291/VII/2026/SPKT Polda Metro Jaya on Monday, 20 July 2026, on suspicion of violating Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023.
Meanwhile, the Media Independen Online (MIO) Indonesia organisation reported the lawyer with the initials HP to Polda Metro Jaya over alleged criminal defamation of the journalistic profession.
“We assess that HP’s statements in the public sphere directed at journalists have demonstrated a demeaning and insulting attitude towards the journalistic profession,” said Chairman of MIO Indonesia, Asep Yusuf Setyabudi Prayogie, when met at Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, on Tuesday (21/7).
The report was officially registered under number LP/B/5298/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA dated 21 July 2026.
In that report, the reported party is suspected of violating Article 433, Article 436 and Article 441 of Law No. 1 of 2023 on the Criminal Code, as well as Article 18 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 4 paragraphs (2) and (3) of Law No. 40 of 1999 on the Press.