Profile of Hotman Paris: Celebrity Lawyer Reported to Polda Metro Jaya for Alleged Insult of Journalists

Jakarta, VIVA – The name of renowned lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea has once again drawn public attention. This time, not for handling a major case, but after he was reported to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police (Polda Metro Jaya) on suspicion of insulting the journalistic profession.

The report was received by the Integrated Police Service Centre (SPKT) of Polda Metro Jaya under number LP/B/5291/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA, dated 20 July 2026 at 20:37 WIB (Western Indonesia Time).

The Head of Public Relations at Polda Metro Jaya, Police Grand Commissioner Budi Hermanto, confirmed the existence of the report. Hotman was reported over an alleged violation of Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023.

The case began when officials of the Central Board of the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) discovered a video containing remarks made by Hotman Paris to a number of journalists at the Office of the Attorney General of the Republic of Indonesia on 17 July 2026. The video subsequently went viral on social media, culminating in a police report.

Behind the controversy now in the spotlight, Hotman Paris is one of the best-known advocates in Indonesia, with a career spanning more than four decades.

Born in North Sumatra, Completed Law Degree in 3.5 Years

Hotman Paris Hutapea was born in Laguboti, Toba Regency, North Sumatra, on 20 October 1959. He is the sixth of ten children in a Batak family.

Although he comes from a family of entrepreneurs, Hotman spent his childhood under a disciplined way of life instilled by his parents. His father ran the Bintang Utara bus company, while his mother played a major role in raising the children to prioritise education.

He then pursued his studies at the Faculty of Law of Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung. Hotman was known as a high-achieving student and completed his undergraduate degree in just three and a half years, graduating in 1981.

His academic career continued with a Master of Law from the University of Technology Sydney in Australia, a Master of Law from Gadjah Mada University, and a doctorate from the Faculty of Law of Padjadjaran University in 2011.

Starting His Career at the O.C. Kaligis Firm

Hotman’s professional journey began after graduation when he joined the law firm O.C. Kaligis & Associates. At that firm, he gained his first experience handling cases in court.