Stand Up Comic Acho Charged for Complaining about Apartment
7 August 2017 13:12 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Stand-up comedian Muhadkly MT alias Acho has charged with defamation for criticizing Green Pramuka City Apartment operator.
The case started when he uploaded a blog post criticizing Green Pramuka City Apartment management on March 8, 2015. Acho, who bought an apartment on February 9, 2013, questioned the commitment of green living promised by the developer. In his blog post, Acho attached the brochures made by the developer saying that it would allocate 80 percent of the apartment complex located in Cempaka Putih, Central Jakarta, as green space.
Ade Wahyudi of the Press Legal Aid Institute (LBH Pers) said that on November 5, 2015, Danang Surya Winata, the lawyer of PT Duta Paramindo Sejahtera—Green Pramuka Apartment operator—filed a defamation lawsuit under article 27 (3) of the Information and Electronic Transaction Law (UU ITE) and articles 310-311 of the Criminal Code (KUHP).
Ade went on to say that on April 26, 2017, Acho was summoned by Jakarta Police for questioning as a witness over the alleged defamation.
On June 9, the police served a summons to Acho for questioning as a suspect. Ade said that two weeks later Acho sent a letter requesting mediation to the reporting party. The request was rejected. Acho came to Jakarta Police Headquarters to take fingerprints and booking photos on July 17.
The dossier was been declared complete and was handed over to Central Jakarta Prosecutors’ Office on August 7.
Ade regrets the fact that the police have processed the case. He reasoned that freedom of expression on social media is protected under the law, even more so because Acho had no intention of defaming the apartment developer.
“The case that has entangled Acho is a proof that consumers who are actually harmed could be charged under a repressive UU ITE [Information Law] and it shows that the UU ITE undermines freedom of speech and expression,” Ade said.
As of press time, Apartment Greem Pramuka City operator could not be reached for a request for comment.
MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI