Tian Bahtiar Freed from an Eight-Year Prison Term, Iwakum Says It Strengthens Protection for the Press

Jakarta — The acquittal of Tian Bahtiar, the Director of Pemberitaan Jak TV, in a case alleging obstruction of the investigation into a corruption scheme involving crude palm oil (CPO), tin and sugar imports has drawn responses from legal journalists. The Indonesian Association of Legal Journalists (Iwakum) praised the decision by the Central Jakarta Corruption Court’s panel of judges, which acquitted Tian of all charges. Iwakum’s General Chairman, Irfan Kamil, said the verdict was an important reaffirmation that journalistic work cannot simply be drawn into criminal liability. ‘Iwakum respects and appreciates the judges’ considerations that emphasise protection for journalistic work,’ he said on Wednesday, 4 March 2026. ‘This sets an important precedent that press products must be placed within the framework of the Press Law and ethical mechanisms, not immediately dragged into criminal territory,’ he added. In its reasoning, the panel found no malice or mens rea or illicit intent in Tian’s actions. The judges also stressed that evaluation of a news report, whether negative or positive, falls within journalistic ethics and professionalism, not the realm of criminal law. ‘Iwakum views this decision as clarifying the boundary between criticism, reporting, and allegations of obstruction of investigations. Not every report that harms a party can be qualified as obstruction of justice,’ Kamil said. Iwakum also highlighted the judges’ reference to the Constitutional Court Decision No. 145/PUU-XXIII/2025 on the material test previously submitted by Iwakum. According to Kamil, this shows that press freedom remains a constitutional right to be protected within the judicial process. Iwakum Secretary-General Ponco Sulaksono cautioned that application of Article 21 of the Law on the Eradication of Corruption Offences concerning obstruction of investigations should be done carefully and proportionately. ‘Law enforcement is important, but it should not erode the space for press freedom guaranteed by the constitution. Disputes over journalistic products should be resolved through the right of reply and correction mechanisms via the Dewan Pers (Press Council),’ Ponco said. Earlier, the panel of judges at the Jakarta Pusat Tipikor Court stated that Tian was not proven beyond reasonable doubt to have committed the charged offense as alleged by the prosecutor. ‘After deliberation, the court… finding that the defendant Tian Bahtiar, as stated above, was not proven beyond reasonable doubt to have committed the offense as charged in the single indictment,’ said Chief Judge Efendi when reading the verdict on Tuesday, 3 March 2026.