PWI Reports Hotman Paris to Police Over 'Do You Have a Brain?' Remark

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has taken legal action following the ‘do you have a brain or not’ remark made by Hotman Paris Hutapea during a press conference. Hotman Paris has now been reported to the Polda Metro Jaya over the statement, which is considered demeaning to the journalism profession. The Director of Anti-Violence against Journalists at PWI Central, Edison Siahaan, stated that Hotman Paris’s remark was not only hurtful but also belittled the profession of journalists. ‘As we know, yesterday there was an incident that actually hurt and offended the journalistic profession. Therefore, we from the Central PWI want to report the person who said that journalists have no brains. As we know, journalists are intelligent,’ Edison told reporters at Polda Metro Jaya, Jakarta, on Monday (20/7/2026). The PWI report was received under number LP/B/5291/VI2028/SPKT/POLDAMETRO JAYA on Monday, 20 July 2026. The complainant is Anrico Pasaribu, Head of the Legal Defence and Development Division of Central PWI, reporting Hotman Paris under Article 242 of Law Number 1 of 2023. Hotman Paris himself has apologised for his remarks. However, Edison assessed that the apology was not made with sincerity. ‘So even though this morning he stated an apology, it seems like it was just a habit he performed. He has not truly made an honest apology from the bottom of his heart,’ he explained. Edison further explained the reason for reporting Hotman Paris to the police, requesting that Hotman Paris be processed according to the applicable law. ‘We want this to be processed legally so that it becomes clear what is behind his statement. Perhaps we all journalists agree that freedom of expression is not what was meant here. It is not about insulting the journalistic profession,’ he said. In the report, the PWI brought evidence in the form of a video showing Hotman Paris insulting journalists. According to him, various journalist organisations have agreed to support the report regarding the alleged hate speech made by Hotman. ‘(Evidence) The video has actually been widely circulated. Perhaps colleagues also already have the video of him being angry at our colleagues. We will submit that to the investigators later,’ he explained. ‘That is the initial evidence. Later, it might not only be the PWI. We have agreed with various journalist organisations, the press community, that many press organisations will unite to support this report,’ he added. As is known, Hotman Paris made a statement that drew widespread condemnation during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office building in South Jakarta on Friday (17/7). Hotman became emotional, saying ‘do you have a brain or not’, ‘ask your grandfather’, ‘shut up’, and ‘if you had a brain, you would know the answer’. During the press conference, Hotman Paris was seated as the lawyer for former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of the Indonesian Attorney General’s Office, Febrie Adriansyah. In the press conference, Hotman also invoked the name of President Prabowo Subianto while defending Febrie. Hotman later apologised. The first apology was conveyed regarding the ‘do you have a brain or not’ remark to the journalist. ‘A statement of apology from me, Hotman Paris. In connection with the appeal from the Indonesian Journalists Association, PWI, and fellow journalists, I hereby express my deepest apologies for my statement during the press conference on the case of the former Jampidsus 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 and admitted the remark came out of emotion. ‘In the end, I got emotional because I had repeatedly said I didn’t know, so I finally answered, ’Don’t you have a brain?’. What I meant was, I already answered that I didn’t know,’ he said. He again apologised to the journalists, claiming he had no ill intentions. ‘Regardless of the actual facts of the incident, at that time everyone was emotional, I still say and express my apologies to the journalist concerned and to journalist organisations throughout Indonesia,’ he said.