PWI Accepts Hotman Paris' Apology, Urges Legal Process to Continue

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) was examined by the Metro Jaya Police regarding its report against lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea. PWI submitted additional evidence related to the statement ‘do you have a brain or not’ made by Hotman during a press conference. “Earlier there was evidence regarding what we complained about yesterday, those five words, perhaps everyone already understands, those five sentences. In the form of video, then the transcript, then several channels or links that we can convey to the investigators,” said the Head of the PWI Legal Defence and Development Division, Anrico Pasaribu, to reporters at the Metro Jaya Police on Wednesday (22/7/2026). Anrico reiterated that the report was not a personal matter, but a form of organisational responsibility. PWI, Anrico said, wants to ensure that the work and profession of journalists can run properly according to existing rules. “But what is certain is that we are doing this not as a personal matter, not a personal conflict, but this is the organisation’s responsibility. How we can safeguard these journalistic duties, these professional duties so that they are under protection,” he said. Anrico asked the police to process the report. He also appreciated Hotman’s apology, but he stressed that the legal process would continue. “There is no target for us to imprison anyone, no, or to criminalise someone, no. We are positioning this case so that it becomes clearer later, whether the elements of evidence are fulfilled, then the rest, we will leave it to the investigators, whether it is sufficient or not, that goes back to the investigators,” he said. “Regarding the apology, we accept it. We accept it and we appreciate it, we accept it. But the legal process is our legal right, we will go through it first,” he added. Hotman Paris is known to have been reported under two complaints at the Metro Jaya Police. First, a report was filed by the Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) and registered with number LP/B/5291/VI2028/SPKT/POLDAMETRO JAYA on Monday, 20 July 2026. The complainant in this case is Anrico Pasaribu as the Head of the PWI Central Legal Defence and Development Division, reporting Hotman Paris under Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023. Most recently, a report was also filed by the Indonesian Online Independent Media (MIO) organisation. The report was registered under number LP/B/5298/VII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA concerning Article 433, Article 436, and Article 441 of Law Number 1 of 2023 regarding the Criminal Code, as well as Article 18 paragraph (1) in conjunction with Article 4 paragraph (2) and paragraph (3) of Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press. Hotman Paris has apologised for his statement. He admitted he was emotional when he said ‘do you have a brain or not’ to journalists. “A statement of apology from me, Hotman Paris. In connection with the appeal from the Indonesian Journalists Association, PWI, and also fellow journalists, I hereby express my deepest apologies for my statement during the press conference on the case of the former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes, where I said ‘do you have a brain or not?’,” Hotman said in a video uploaded to his official Instagram account. Hotman then explained the reason he uttered those words. He claimed he was asked the same thing several times. He admitted the remark ‘do you have a brain’ came out because of emotion. “Finally I got emotional because I had repeatedly said I didn’t know, in the end I answered, ‘Do you have a brain or not?’. What I meant was, I already answered earlier, I don’t know,” he said.