Rp 272.7 million not enough to halt Bahar bin Smith case

Restorative justice in the case of alleged assault involving Bahar bin Smith has been pursued repeatedly. However, to date, the restorative justice path has not found a meeting point. The divergence in demands between the suspect’s side and the victim’s family has stalled mediation. An offer of compensation was once made, but the victim’s family opted for the matter to continue through legal channels. Bahar bin Smith’s counsel, Ichwan Tuankotta, said his side had prepared Rp 272.7 million as part of a peace settlement in mediation at the Tangerang City Metro Police (Polres Metro Tangerang Kota). However, during mediation, the figure rose considerably. ‘Previously, the Ridha side, through their legal counsel, asked for Rp 272.7 million. But at the meeting the figure changed to Rp 2 billion,’ Tuankotta told Kompas.com on Thursday (5 March 2026). Tuankotta said the Rp 2 billion request was presented as one of the conditions for achieving RJ. ‘It was conveyed through the principal’s wife that there were two demands to reach RJ. One of them is a request for Rp 2 billion for restoration,’ he said. He even confirmed the amount demanded again in that meeting. Hearing the request, Tuankotta said he was shocked and regarded the demand as extortion. ‘At that moment I immediately thought, “extortion”’, he added. Before that mediation, Bahar had also visited the victim’s home and offered cash and compensation for a motorcycle as a form of peace.