Videographer Amsal Sitepu Breaks Down in Tears at DPR Meeting: I'm Just a Creative Worker

Videographer Amsal Sitepu could not hold back his tears when appearing virtually at the Commission III of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) audience meeting discussing his case after being demanded a two-year prison sentence for alleged corruption through the production of a village profile series in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.

Amsal claimed that he is just a creative worker. He has absolutely no authority or power in determining government budgets.

“I’m just an ordinary creative economy worker, sir. I have no authority over the budget, sir. Simply put, I just sell,” said Amsal while sobbing during the meeting.

Amsal appeared virtually at the meeting accompanied by Commission III DPR member Hinca Pandjaitan.

He admitted to being worried that his case would only make creative workers afraid to collaborate with the government. In fact, he was only selling services.

“If the price is indeed too expensive, why wasn’t it rejected? Or if it didn’t match, why was it paid? There’s no need to imprison me,” said Amsal.

Since carrying out the project during the Covid-19 pandemic era in 2020, Amsal said he was only trying to survive by promoting Karo Regency. The video even highlighted local wisdom in Karo.

“I love the land of Karo so much, sir. Even with this incident, I will still love the land of Karo. Thank you, sir,” said Amsal.

Amsal is the Director of CV Promiseland, which received the project to create a village profile series in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. In total, more than 20 villages had their profiles made in video form.

According to the prosecutor, in the indictment, Amsal was deemed to have carried out mark-up or inflation of funds after setting the budget amount at Rp30 million for the village profile series. The funds came from the village fund budget.

However, according to the prosecutor, that amount did not match the planned budget cost (RAB).

Amsal’s project was deemed to violate Minister of Home Affairs Regulation Number 20 of 2018 on Village Financial Management, article 2 paragraph (1), that village finances are managed based on the principles of transparency, accountability, participation, and carried out in an orderly and disciplined manner.

Recent audit results indicate a state financial loss due to the alleged calculation of state financial loss amounting to Rp202,161,980.