Student charged with manipulating protest information faces prison

Khariq Anhar, a student at Riau University and administrator for the "Alliance of Concerned Students," faces a six-month prison sentence. Prosecutors accuse him of manipulating electronic information, commonly known as "timpa teks" or text overwriting, in connection with protests in August 2025.

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To impose a sentence of imprisonment on the Defendant Khariq Anhar for 6 months.

The Public Prosecutor's Office (JPU) believes Khariq intentionally altered a news report featuring a statement by Said Iqbal, the Chairman of the Labor Party. The JPU stated that Khariq modified the post without authorization, uploading false information to the alliance's social media account.

Prosecutors argued that Khariq's actions were deliberate and not accidental, demonstrating an intent to spread misinformation. They emphasized that he acted without permission from the media outlet or Said Iqbal, thus violating electronic information integrity laws. Khariq is charged under Indonesia's Electronic Information and Transactions Law.

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That the series of actions shows active conduct by the Defendant requiring self-will and consciousness from the Defendant, so that the change to the electronic information was not a side effect of using electronic data, but rather a goal intended by the Defendant.

While Khariq and three colleagues were previously acquitted in a related incitement case, the prosecution appealed that verdict. In this current case, prosecutors cited public unrest and damage to public facilities during the protests as aggravating factors. However, Khariq's lack of prior convictions and cooperation during the trial were considered mitigating factors.

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That the elements of intentionally and without rights or unlawfully have been fulfilled and legally and convincingly proven.