Resbob, Defendant in Hate Speech Case Against Sundanese Ethnic Group, Faces 2.5-Year Prison Sentence
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BANDUNG - YouTuber Adhimas Firdaus, alias Resbob, has been charged by the public prosecutor (JPU) with a sentence of two years and six months’ imprisonment. He is charged under Article 234 of the new Criminal Code.
“The charge is under Article 234 as per the indictment in the new Criminal Code, with a demand of two years and six months,” stated JPU Sukanda to reporters after the reading of the charges at the Bandung District Court on Monday (13/4/2026).
He explained that the prosecution also demands the confiscation of the evidence used in the act. Meanwhile, items unrelated to the case will be returned to the defendant.
Previously, Rika Fitrianirmala, the public prosecutor (JPU) from the Bandung District Attorney’s Office, began reading the indictment after being given permission by the chief judge. The prosecutor stated that Adhimas Firdaus, alias Resbob, on Monday (8/12/2025), committed a criminal offence by broadcasting, displaying, or posting writings or images visible to the public, or playing recordings audible to the public, or disseminating via information technology means, content containing statements of hostility intended to be known or more widely known by the public, against one or more groups or communities of Indonesian residents based on race, nationality, ethnicity, skin colour, mental disability, or physical disability, resulting in violence against persons or property.
Resbob, who was at his boarding house in Surabaya with two friends, drove a car while starting a live stream using his mobile phone. They then purchased one alcoholic beverage (minol).
He said that the three of them together headed to a haunted house attraction while drinking the minol. With Resbob driving the car and his two friends in the passenger seats conducting the live stream.
“In the mobile phone live stream, Resbob uttered the words ’Bonek Viking sama aja, tapi yang anjng hanya Viking, pokoknya semua Sunda anjng, semua orang sunda anj*ng’ on the YouTube account @panggilajabob,” he said.
The prosecutor stated that Resbob made this statement while conscious, despite being under the influence of alcohol, while driving the car, and intended for it to be known by the public watching, up to 200 people.
“These words have been known by the public, causing feelings of hostility towards one or more groups or communities of Indonesian residents based on ethnicity, particularly among the Sundanese ethnic group,” he said.
The prosecutor added that the defendant’s actions, Muhammad Adhimas Firdaus alias Resbob, are charged under Article 243 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code in conjunction with Article 243 paragraph (1) of Law Number 1 of 2026 on Criminal Penalty Adjustments, with a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment.