Resbob Appears in Court for First Hearing in Hate Speech Case
Bandung, VIVA – Muhammad Adimas Firdaus Putra Nashihan, also known as Resbob, the defendant in an alleged hate speech case targeting the Sundanese ethnic group and supporters of football club Persib Bandung, began his first hearing at Bandung District Court on Monday afternoon. The opening session was dedicated to the reading of charges by the public prosecutor.
The courtroom was packed as the defendant entered. A number of attendees at Bandung District Court were heard shouting at Resbob as he made his way to the hearing.
In the indictment, prosecutors outlined the chronology of the alleged offence. It was stated that at the time of the incident, the defendant was in his rented accommodation in the Dukuh Kupang area of Surabaya. He was then collected by two associates, Aleandro Ishak Bagaskara and Jonathan Frodo Octavianus, in a car belonging to Jonathan.
Prosecutors alleged that after being picked up, the defendant conducted a livestream on social media containing hate speech directed at the Sundanese ethnic group and Persib Bandung supporters.
“For his actions, the defendant has been charged with violating provisions of the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law relating to the dissemination of information that incites hatred or hostility based on ethnicity, religion, race and inter-group relations (SARA),” said public prosecutor Sukanda of the West Java High Prosecutorial Office at Bandung District Court on Monday, 23 February 2026.
Meanwhile, the defendant’s legal counsel, Fidelis Giawa, stated that he would mount a legal challenge against the charges brought against his client at Bandung District Court.
According to Fidelis, the locus of the incident was not in Bandung but in Surabaya.
“We will certainly mount a legal challenge. Our client should not be tried at Bandung District Court but rather in Surabaya, in accordance with the locus of the incident,” he said.
The trial will continue next week with the hearing of the defence’s exception or objection note.