Prosecutors hope judges reject exception plea of Bangun Paulus extortion defendant

Jakarta - Public prosecutors hope the panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court will reject the objection or exception plea filed by defendant Bangun Paulus Tudungta in a case of alleged threats and extortion.

Prosecutor Andri Saputra assessed that the objection note submitted by the defendant’s legal counsel has entered the substance of the case and should therefore be examined through the evidentiary stage.

“Regarding the defences or objections from the defendant’s legal counsel, in our view they have already entered the evidentiary domain. We will see the interim ruling later and how the judges consider it,” Andri said in a statement in Jakarta on Wednesday.

In his response, Andri stated that the indictment had been prepared in accordance with Article 75 paragraph (2) of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code and meets the requirements of being careful, clear and complete.

For that reason, the prosecution hopes the panel of judges will declare the objection from the defendant’s legal counsel rejected or at least inadmissible, and that the examination of the case will proceed to the main subject matter.

“To rule that the objection from the defendant’s advocate is rejected or at the very least inadmissible. To rule that the examination of the criminal case on behalf of defendant Bangun Paulus Tudungta be continued,” he said.

In the indictment, Bangun Paulus is charged with violating Article 482 paragraph (1) letter a and Article 483 letter a of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code.

Article 482 paragraph (1) letter a carries a maximum criminal penalty of nine years’ imprisonment, while Article 483 letter a carries a maximum criminal penalty of four years’ imprisonment.

According to Andri, both articles are considered appropriate to the alleged criminal acts charged against Bangun Paulus.

Meanwhile, the defendant’s legal counsel Iskandar Halim Munthe said his side had listened to the prosecution’s response and fully submitted the decision to the panel of judges.

Iskandar said differences of view between the prosecution and the defence are common in court proceedings.

“But later, it is the panel of judges who will decide. So, we will wait until next Wednesday for the panel of judges to decide whether to reject or accept the prosecutor’s indictment,” Iskandar said.