Indonesian Journalists Association Withdraws Report Against Lawyer Hotman Paris

The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) has officially withdrawn its police report filed against prominent lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea. This move comes after a recent meeting between representatives of PWI and Hutapea, aimed at resolving the dispute.

PWI Chairman Akhmad Munir stated that Hutapea offered a direct apology during their meeting, which served as a follow-up to a previous public apology made via social media. Munir explained that Hutapea clarified the intent behind his controversial statements, asserting that he had no intention of demeaning the journalism profession.

According to Munir, the decision to withdraw the report was solely based on Hutapea's apology and was not influenced by any financial compensation. He firmly denied any such exchange.

The meeting between Munir and Hutapea was facilitated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Supratman Dasco Ahmad. Photos shared on Dasco's personal Instagram account showed the three individuals together, signifying an end to the public conflict. Dasco described the gathering as a "friendly meeting" between the PWI Chairman and Hutapea.

Anrico Pasaribu, Head of PWI's Legal Affairs, credited Dasco's involvement as a unifying factor that enabled a peaceful resolution. He expressed that Dasco's role as a unifier helped bridge the gap between the conflicting parties.

Pasaribu added that PWI believes the issue could be resolved amicably through dialogue, without resorting to legal channels. However, PWI has left the administrative and legal follow-up for withdrawing the report to the investigators. PWI had initially reported Hutapea to the Polda Metro Jaya on July 20, 2026, following statements made during a press conference after the examination of former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes, Febrie Adriansyah. PWI's Director of Anti-Violence Against Journalists, Edison Siahaan, claimed the report was filed because Hutapea's remarks were deemed to belittle journalists. Siahaan had previously stated that Hutapea's apology did not automatically absolve him of criminal responsibility.