Indonesian Journalists Association reports lawyer Hotman Paris to police

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has filed a report against prominent lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea with the Metro Jaya Regional Police. The association accuses Hutapea of insulting the journalism profession through his remarks made during a press conference. The incident occurred after the examination of Febrie Adriansyah, the former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes.

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We want this to be processed legally.

Edison Siahaan, Director of PWI's Anti-Violence Against Journalists division, stated that Hotman Paris's comments were demeaning to the profession. "We want this to be processed legally," Siahaan said on Monday evening, July 20, 2026. PWI has prepared evidence, including a video recording that allegedly shows Hutapea berating a journalist during the press conference, to support their report.

The controversy began when a journalist asked Adriansyah if he felt criminalized in the case he was involved in. Hotman Paris interrupted the question with aggressive language, reportedly asking, "What do you think? Don't you have a brain?" He then urged the journalist to assess the legal process himself, citing the search of his client's home as unethical and premature.

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What do you think? Don't you have a brain?

During the press conference, Hotman Paris repeatedly made harsh statements and questioned the legal education background of the journalists asking questions. When asked about filing a pre-trial motion, he confirmed it would happen, but deflected questions about alleged hidden agendas in Adriansyah's case. Chairman of the Press Council, Komaruddin Hidayat, expressed regret over Hotman Paris's behavior, deeming it inappropriate and suggesting that disagreements with journalists should be handled more rationally and ethically, emphasizing that journalists' questions are part of their protected journalistic work.

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Disagreement or displeasure with a journalist's question should be responded to in a more rational and ethical manner.

Hotman Paris later issued an apology via a video posted on his Instagram account, expressing his deep regret for the "don't you have a brain?" remark. He explained that his emotions were triggered because journalists repeatedly asked questions he felt had already been answered, particularly concerning the case.

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I hereby express my deepest apologies for my statement during the press conference at the former Junior Attorney General's office, saying 'don't you have a brain?'