Toraja Customary Joke Controversy: Criminal Investigation Bureau Questions YouTube Admin of Comedian Pandji
The administrator of comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono’s YouTube channel, identified by the initials SB, was questioned by the Cyber Crime Directorate (Dittipidsiber) of the Criminal Investigation Bureau (Bareskrim) of the Indonesian National Police today. SB was examined in connection with content on Pandji’s YouTube channel that allegedly insulted Toraja customary practices.
“We have conducted an examination of SB in his capacity as the administrator of the YouTube channel in question. This examination is a follow-up to a public complaint regarding the alleged criminal offence of defamation through electronic media,” said Deputy Director I of Dittipidsiber Bareskrim, Commissioner Rizki Prakoso, to reporters on Thursday (19/2/2026).
SB was questioned as the administrator who uploaded the video content allegedly insulting Toraja customs to Pandji’s YouTube channel. The content was uploaded on 8 June 2021.
In his testimony, SB stated that the Toraja customary content was uploaded to the YouTube channel under the direction of Pandji Pragiwaksono. SB told investigators that he had been working for Pandji Pragiwaksono since 2010.
“Based on the witness’s testimony, the editing process, narration writing, description, and upload schedule were all carried out by the individual concerned under the instruction and direction of the channel owner,” Rizki explained.
SB was asked 33 questions related to the video editing process, the provision of narration and content descriptions, and the determination of the upload schedule. SB was examined at the Bareskrim headquarters in South Jakarta.
Rizki emphasised that investigators are continuing to probe the case by gathering evidence and additional testimony. He stressed that his office prioritises professionalism and transparency in handling every public complaint.
“The investigation process is still ongoing. We prioritise professionalism and transparency in handling every public complaint,” he affirmed.
Previously, Pandji was reported by the Toraja Youth Alliance to Bareskrim after one of his stand-up comedy routines was deemed to have insulted Toraja customs. In his comedy material, Pandji discussed funeral processions in the Toraja community.
Pandji himself was also examined on Monday (2/2). The case has entered the formal investigation stage.
The material that has now become controversial was originally part of Pandji’s stand-up comedy performance in 2013. During that show, Pandji touched upon the high costs that must be borne when conducting funerals according to Toraja custom.
“In Toraja, and some of you surely know this, when a family member dies, the funeral involves an extremely expensive ceremony. Am I right? In fact, many Toraja people are driven into poverty after holding a funeral ceremony for their family, and many who cannot afford it simply leave the body as it is,” Pandji said in a video excerpt viewed on Tuesday (4/11/2025).
Pandji then continued his routine by stating that Toraja people who cannot afford to bury their deceased family members will keep the body in the house.
Pandji then employed impersonation, a stand-up comedy technique in which a comedian mimics another person or character. In this segment, Pandji positioned himself as a foreigner visiting a Toraja household and discovering a corpse in the living room.
“This is a common practice — say a family member has died and they don’t have the money, the body is just placed in the living room. For the family of the deceased, this is perfectly normal, but imagine how confused a visitor would be,” Pandji said.
“Watching anything on television would feel like a horror film. Watching Teletubbies would be terrifying. That Tinky Winky jumping around with the antenna on top would be scary,” Pandji quipped while performing his impersonation.