Hotman Paris faces multiple police reports over alleged journalist insult
Senior lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea was recorded saying “Lu punya otak nggak?” to journalists during a press conference at the Attorney General’s Office on 17 July 2026. The remark was deemed an insult to the journalism profession.
The Indonesian Journalists Union (PWI) filed a police report (LP/B/5291/VII/2026) citing Article 242 of the Criminal Code. The Independent Online Media (MIO) and other journalist groups lodged separate reports, invoking Articles 433, 436 and 441 of the 2023 Criminal Code and press‑law provisions. Polda Metro Jaya is reviewing the filings and has said it will summon Hotman for questioning, though no interview has been scheduled yet.
Hotman publicly apologized in an Instagram video, saying “Pernyataan maaf dari saya, Hotman Paris,” but legal scholars such as Prof. Henry Indraguna warned that an apology does not erase potential criminal liability if the statutory elements are met. Police investigations continue amidst calls from politicians and media organisations for transparent handling of the case.