Prosecutors Confident Central Jakarta District Court Panel Will Reject Extortion Defendant's Exception, Here's Why

JAKARTA — Public prosecutors (JPU) consider that the objection or exception filed by the defence counsel of extortion defendant Bangun Paulus Tudungta (BPT) has entered the realm of the main case.

As such, the prosecution is confident that the panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court (PN Jakpus) will reject the exception.

This was conveyed by Prosecutor Andri Saputra during the continuation of the BPT case hearing at the Central Jakarta District Court on Wednesday (19/8/2026).

According to Andri, an exception should only be used to test the formal aspects of an indictment, not to prove whether the defendant actually committed the criminal act as charged.

He referred to Article 206 paragraph (1) of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP), which regulates the limits of the material that may be raised in an objection or challenge by the defendant or their legal counsel.

Andri explained that there are at least three matters that may form the basis of an exception. First, matters concerning the relative or absolute competence of the court.

Second, an indictment deemed inadmissible, for example due to nebis in idem or error in persona. Third, an indictment considered imprecise or failing to meet material requirements.

“This exception actually only tests the formal aspects of the indictment,” Andri said during the hearing.

He gave examples of matters that may be disputed in an exception, including whether the indictment has been signed, whether there is an error in the date, whether the defendant charged is the correct person, and whether the description of the criminal act in the indictment has been clearly formulated.

Conversely, according to Andri, questions regarding whether the defendant actually committed extortion, made threats of violence, or caused losses are part of the evidentiary process of the case.

“If it has already touched upon the substance of the case or the main matter, such as whether the defendant committed extortion, threats, and so forth, that will be proven later in the trial through witness testimony,” he said.