Haris Azhar, Fatia Maulidiyanti Acquitted in Defamation Trial; Luhut Comments

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Human rights activists Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanti were acquitted today, January 8, of all charges of defaming Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan. The panel of judges said the two defendants were not proven guilty.

“The defendants are declared free of all charges,” the decision was read.

Prosecutors had earlier demanded a sentence of four years in prison for Haris and three years and six months for Fatia, for defaming Luhut in Haris' YouTube video about the senior minister's involvement in mining in Papua.

In response to the court's decision, Luhut said that he respected the panel of judges at the East Jakarta District Court. “Any court decision is a manifestation of the legal process which we must respect,” he said in a written statement received by Tempo, on Monday, January 8. 2024.

Luhut also said that he would completely hand over the next process to the Public Prosecutor, believing that they would wisely continue the process in accordance with the law.

“We highly value our judicial system and hope that every legal process can be conducted in a more transparent and accountable manner for the sake of justice and truth,” Luhut Pandjaitan said. “We also call on all parties to respect the legal process and wait patiently for each process.”

RIRI RAHAYU | DESTY LUTHFIANI

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News