Prosecutors Say Extortion Defendant's Indictment Complete, Ask Court to Reject Plea

Prosecutors have asserted that the indictment against Bangun Paulus Tudungta, accused of alleged threats and extortion, is meticulously prepared, clear, and complete. They are urging the panel of judges at the Central Jakarta District Court to dismiss the defendant's defense plea and allow the case to move forward to the examination of the core issues.

The prosecution's response to the defendant's plea was presented during a continuation of the trial on Wednesday. Prosecutor Andri Saputra stated that the indictment against Bangun Paulus adheres to the provisions of Article 75, Paragraph 2 of Law Number 20 of 2025 concerning the Criminal Procedure Code (KUHAP). Saputra argued that the defense counsel's arguments within the plea have already delved into the realm of evidence, which is premature for this stage.

"The defenses or pleas from the defendant's legal counsel, in our view, have already entered the territory of evidence. We will see in the interim decision how the judges deliberate," Saputra remarked during the hearing. He reiterated that the indictment against Bangun Paulus meets the legal requirements for meticulousness, clarity, and completeness as stipulated by criminal procedure law.

Based on these grounds, the prosecution formally requested the judges to reject the defendant's plea or, at the very least, declare it inadmissible. "We decree that the plea from the defendant's advocate be rejected or at least declared inadmissible. We decree that the examination of the criminal case against the defendant Bangun Paulus Tudungta shall continue," Andri stated. The indictment charges Bangun Paulus Tudungta under Article 482, Paragraph 1, letter a, and Article 483, letter a of Law Number 1 of 2023 concerning the Criminal Code (KUHP). The first charge carries a potential sentence of up to nine years imprisonment, while the second charge carries a maximum of four years. Prosecutors believe these articles accurately reflect the alleged criminal acts committed by the defendant.