Questioned by Police Criminal Investigation Unit, Pandji Pragiwaksono Explains Regarding Toraja Customary Court Hearing

Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono has undergone questioning at the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Indonesian National Police (Bareskrim Polri). The questioning pertains to a case involving alleged insult to Toraja customs, which was reported by the Toraja Youth Alliance.

Pandji was questioned for approximately two hours at the Bareskrim building on Monday, 9 March 2026. He stated that he was asked roughly 17 questions by investigators.

“I was asked about my presence in Toraja when I underwent the Toraja customary court hearing. The questions were centred on that matter and I have already provided clarifications,” Pandji said after the questioning.

Pandji stated that there was no direct discussion regarding case resolution through restorative justice. Nevertheless, he expressed hope that restorative justice would be prioritised.

“Perhaps not directly, but the process of the hearing was discussed—what happened and what was agreed upon. My hope is that restorative justice will be prioritised, since between myself and legitimate representatives from the Toraja community, an understanding has already been reached,” he said.

Pandji also revealed that he was asked about the identities of the customary elders who presided over the hearing. He stated that he suggested investigators confirm directly with the local customary community.

“I then asked the investigators to verify directly with the customary community there to be more certain, because I did not want to make mistakes in pronouncing names, titles, and especially territorial boundaries,” Pandji said.

He regarded the customary court hearing he underwent in Toraja as a legitimate form of mediation. He stated that the customary hearing was attended by representatives of the customary community.

“It seemed to be held in his territory with Toraja community representatives who were present at the hearing yesterday. Because yesterday’s hearing was legitimate, it was complete in representing the customary territorial areas, it was attended by elders and seven judges,” Pandji explained.

“If anyone needs to mediate, perhaps it would be the two of them,” he added.

Pandji stated that he was not worried and had confidence in the legal process underway. He described the Toraja customary court hearing as one of his most memorable experiences.

“So during the customary hearing, both parties apologised for what had been said and had occurred as a result of this situation. It appears that both sides gained much learning and I have also committed to being more careful in writing joke material for my stand-up comedy,” he said.

In this case, Pandji was reported by the Toraja Youth Alliance to Bareskrim Polri after one of his stand-up comedy routines was deemed to have insulted Toraja customs. In his comedy material, Pandji discussed funeral procession practices among the Toraja ethnic group.

The material now controversial was actually part of Pandji’s stand-up comedy performance in 2013. During that performance, Pandji made reference to the high costs incurred in conducting a funeral according to Toraja customs.

Pandji had undergone a customary court hearing as a consequence of his joke about Toraja culture. Pandji was sanctioned with a fine of one pig and five chickens.