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TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Attorney General's Office (AGO) has named Jak TV's News Director Tian Bahtiar (TB) along with lawyers Marcella Santoso (MS) and Junaedi Saibih (JS) as suspects in an obstruction of justice case.
"There was a conspiracy to directly or indirectly prevent, obstruct, or disrupt," said Director of Investigation at the Attorney General's Office for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Abdul Qohar at the Attorney General's Office building in Jakarta on early Tuesday, as quoted by Antara.
The obstruction was related to the handling of the case of corruption in the trading of tin commodities in the mining business license (IUP) of PT Timah Tbk. for the period of 2015-2022, corruption in the importation of sugar in the name of the suspect Tom Lembong, and corruption in providing export facilities for crude palm oil (CPO).
Qohar revealed that the case was uncovered from the development of a suspected bribery case in the verdict of the CPO export facility at the Central Jakarta District Court.
From the development, it was discovered that suspects MS and JS instructed TB to create negative news that discredited the Jampidsus investigators at the Attorney General's Office in exchange for a fee of Rp478.5 million.
The money, Qohar said, went into TB's personal pocket. "TB then published it on social media, online media, and JAKTV News, causing negative impressions of the Attorney General's Office," he said.
Aside from news, TB also funded demonstrations and seminars, podcasts, and talk shows that discredited the Attorney General's Office.
All three suspects are charged under Article 21 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001 concerning the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) clause 1 of the Criminal Code.
Payment Invoice for News
The Attorney General's investigators found payment invoices for news publications ordered by suspects MS and JS as lawyers to TB, the News Director of JAK TV.
"In this search, investigators seized documents, electronic evidence, including mobile phones and laptops suspected to be used as tools in committing the crime," said Abdul Qohar at the Attorney General's Office building in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The first invoice was a bill for Rp153.5 million dated March 14, 2025 for payment for 14 news items with the topics of follow-up reasons for the sugar import case, 18 news items with the topics of Jamin Ginting's response, and 10 news items with the topics of Ronald Lobloby's response, as well as 15 news items on Dian Puji and Prof. Romli's responses.
The second invoice found was a bill of Rp20 million for payment for coverage in nine mainstream and general media, media monitoring, and TikTok content in Jakarta for the period of June 4, 2024.
The investigators also found several campaign documents through podcasts and media streaming, as well as documents for the needs of social movement, survey institutions, national seminars, building public narratives, and key opinion leaders related to the handling of the PT Timah trading case and the sugar import case by the Attorney General's Office, costing Rp2.4 billion.
According to Abdul Qohar, the investigators also found reports related to media monitoring with news from Indonesia Police Watch (IPW) for the period of June 3, 2024, as well as documents containing extortion schemes and money laundering by Jampidsus figures.
Press Council Meets Attorney General Directly
Chairman of the Press Council Ninik Rahayu met with Attorney General Sanitiar Burhanuddin at the Main Building of the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta on Tuesday following the designation of Tian Bahtiar as a suspect.
"We will gather the news that has been used, which according to the Attorney General, has been used to conspire," said Ninik Rahayu after meeting the Attorney General.
She stated that the news would be assessed to determine whether there were any substantive or procedural violations of journalistic ethics.
"We want to make sure first. So, in the context of the examination, we may later call in the parties," she said.
Regarding the case of obstructing the investigation involving TB, Ninik said that her organization respects the legal process undertaken by the Attorney General's Office.
"The Press Council certainly does not want to interfere with the legal process. However, regarding the news, to assess whether a newswork falls under journalistic work or not, this is the ethical authority and the assessment is done by the Press Council," she said.
Meanwhile, Head of the Attorney General's Law Information Center (Kapuspenkum), Harli Siregar, stated that the Adhyaksa Corps also respects the investigation process into alleged ethical violations that will be carried out by the Press Council.
IJTI: Potentially Injuring Press Freedom
Chairman of the Indonesian Television Journalists Association (IJTI) Herik Kurniawan stated that they support the eradication of corruption as conducted by the Attorney General's Office.
"However, IJTI highlights the designation of suspects based on news activities, which is part of journalistic work," said Herik in a written statement on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
He said that journalistic products, including those that are critical of state institutions, are part of the press control function. This is guaranteed and protected by Law Number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press.
"If the allegations against the Director of News at JAK TV are related to the content of broadcasts or journalistic content, the Attorney General's Office should first coordinate with the Press Council," said Herik. This is in line with the mandate of the law, only the Press Council is authorized to determine whether a product is journalistic work or not.
He stated that legal proceedings carried out without involving the Press Council have the potential to injure press freedom. This also has the potential to create a bad precedent that can be used by certain parties to pressure the media carrying out their professional and legitimate critical functions.
According to the Press Law, every dispute related to news must be resolved through the Press Council. "Not through a criminal route," he said.
He believes that legal proceedings against journalists or media without clear grounds and procedures are a threat to democracy. This also threatens freedom of expression.
Therefore, IJTI calls on all press professionals to uphold journalistic ethics and maintain independence in carrying out their duties. The Indonesian Television Journalists Association also asks law enforcement agencies to respect the principle of press freedom and not to use repressive approaches to journalistic activities.
"IJTI will also soon coordinate with the Press Council to ensure the protection of journalistic work remains within the correct legal framework," said Herik.
AJI: Reported to the Press Council
Chairman of the Independent Journalists Alliance (AJI) Indonesia Nany Afrida stated that news with negative narratives should not be subject to criminal charges but should be reported to the Press Council.
After that, she said, the Press Council would assess and decide, not any other institution. "It would be very dangerous if a news report is considered or subject to legal obstruction charges by an institution other than the Press Council," said Nany to Tempo on Tuesday.
She stated that many media outlets genuinely cover cases with criticism. Moreover, the media often performs its function as a check on state power. "Narratives like this will also create a bad precedent for the criminalization of the press in the future," said Nany. "If they use this approach, they might also be charged with obstructing the law."
Nany emphasized that the Press Council must be involved in all press disputes. Law Number 40 of 1999 can be used for press issues. AJI urges the media and journalists to always adhere to journalistic ethics so they can remain independent. Nany also reminded journalists not to cross the line and to continue to maintain professionalism.
Amelia Rahima Sari, Hammam Izzuddin contributed to writing this article.
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