Tuesday, 28 July 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - The Legal Aid Institute (LBH) Medan has strongly responded to the decision of prominent lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea to withdraw as legal counsel for former Deputy Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) of Indonesia's Attorney General's Office, Febrie Adriansyah. According to the organization, the withdrawal has further intensified public suspicion that serious issues surround the ongoing corruption investigation involving the former senior prosecutor.
LBH Medan Director Irvan Saputra, S.H., M.H., stated that Hotman Paris' decision has attracted widespread public attention because it came at a time when the investigation into Febrie Adriansyah is under intense public scrutiny.
He said the development should prompt law enforcement authorities to reassess the handling of the case and ensure that the investigation is conducted transparently, objectively, and without any conflict of interest.
Irvan also argued that the corruption allegations against Febrie Adriansyah should not be viewed as an isolated case. According to him, there is a possibility that other individuals may also be involved. Therefore, he emphasized that the investigation must remain independent so that all legally relevant facts can be thoroughly uncovered.
Against this backdrop, LBH Medan has urged Indonesia's Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to immediately assume responsibility for the investigation.
Irvan said such a move is necessary to safeguard the independence of the investigation and prevent potential conflicts of interest if the case continues to be handled by an institution that has organizational ties to the suspect.
He explained that the KPK's authority to take over the investigation is clearly stipulated under Article 10A of Law No. 19 of 2019 concerning the Corruption Eradication Commission. Under the law, the KPK is authorized to assume investigations and/or prosecutions of corruption cases that are being handled by the National Police or the Attorney General's Office under certain conditions.
According to Irvan, this authority serves as an essential legal mechanism to ensure that anti-corruption efforts are carried out professionally, transparently, and with full accountability. He therefore urged the KPK to exercise its statutory authority whenever indications of a conflict of interest arise during the legal process.
Irvan also highlighted the legal principle of Nemo Judex In Causa Sua, which holds that no individual or institution should adjudicate a matter in which it has its own interest. He stressed that this doctrine is one of the fundamental principles required to ensure impartial criminal proceedings.
He noted that the principle is particularly relevant in a case involving a former high-ranking official of the Attorney General's Office. Allowing the KPK to take over the investigation, he said, would strengthen public confidence while eliminating doubts regarding the independence of the legal process.
Irvan further emphasized that criminal investigators must pursue all individuals allegedly involved, provided sufficient evidence exists. Law enforcement agencies, he said, should not focus solely on one suspect but should comprehensively investigate any possible connections involving other parties.
LBH Medan reaffirmed that anti-corruption efforts must be guided by the principles of justice, transparency, and accountability. The organization expects all law enforcement measures to be conducted professionally and without creating the perception of unequal treatment before the law.
Irvan reiterated that transferring the investigation to the KPK would reinforce the independence of the criminal process while strengthening public trust in Indonesia's anti-corruption efforts.
"The principle of Nemo Judex In Causa Sua means that no one should judge his or her own case. The same principle applies to the Attorney General's Office, which should not investigate its own officials—particularly when the suspect is one of the highest-ranking officers directly below the Attorney General. Otherwise, there is a risk that the investigation will not be conducted objectively and that other officials who may be involved will remain undiscovered," Irvan said in an official statement on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The case involving Febrie Adriansyah attracted nationwide attention after the Corruption Crime Directorate of the Indonesian National Police (Kortastipidkor Polri) named him as a suspect in three alleged corruption cases. The investigations involve cases related to the coal sector, PT Asabri, and PT Krakatau Steel. Alongside Febrie, a private businessman identified by the initials DR was also named as a suspect.
As part of the investigation, law enforcement authorities searched several locations allegedly linked to the case, including properties belonging to Febrie Adriansyah. During the searches, investigators seized numerous pieces of evidence, including gold bullion, cash in Indonesian rupiah and foreign currencies, as well as various documents that have now become part of the evidentiary process.
Following the announcement of the suspects, the Indonesian National Police transferred the handling of the three corruption cases to the Attorney General's Office. The decision sparked public debate because the institution is now investigating a case involving one of its own former senior officials. Consequently, various groups-including academics and legal aid organizations-have called on the KPK to take over the investigation in order to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure the independence of law enforcement.
Most recently, the Attorney General's Office also launched a separate investigation into Febrie Adriansyah over alleged money laundering. The inquiry is linked to assets in the form of gold and cash that were previously confiscated during the searches. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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