Togar Situmorang Files Appeal Following Increased Prison Sentence in Denpasar

Senior advocate Togar Situmorang has confirmed his intention to file a cassation appeal to the Supreme Court after the Denpasar High Court rejected his appeal and instead increased his sentence to three years in prison regarding an alleged fraud case. The verdict was delivered in a session led by Presiding Judge Frida Ariyani on Wednesday, 3 June 2026. The panel of judges also ordered house arrest for 30 days, effective from 3 June to 2 July 2026.

Togar’s legal counsel, Rinto Maha, stated that the team is pursuing cassation because they believe the verdict does not align with the facts presented during the trial. He noted that the prosecution failed to present three key witnesses and that the defence’s request to re-examine mitigating witnesses was denied. Maha argued that, based on the principle of ‘ultimum remedium’ in the Criminal Code, the matter should have been handled through professional ethics proceedings rather than criminal prosecution.

In addition to the appeal, the defence is considering reporting alleged judicial ethics violations to the Judicial Commission. Legal practitioner Minola Sebayang warned that if this verdict becomes legally binding, it could set a dangerous precedent for the legal profession, potentially allowing clients to file fraud charges against lawyers whenever a case is lost. Sebayang argued that fee disputes are civil or ethical matters, noting that lawyers cannot guarantee case outcomes.

Boyamin Saiman, Chairman of the Indonesian Anti-Corruption Society (MAKI), also commented on the ruling, suggesting that prosecutors should refrain from detention while a defendant is pursuing legal remedies. He argued that since the verdict is not yet final, detention imposes unnecessary costs on the state and risks imprisoning an individual who could potentially be acquitted upon appeal.