Lawyer Hotma Sitompul Denies Accepting IDR 3 Billion For Social Assistance Money, Confirms LBH Mawar Saron Pro Bono

JAKARTA - Lawyer Hotma Sitompul denied receiving Rp3 billion from the Ministry of Social Affairs (Kemensos). The money was once referred to as a fee for Hotma who handles cases of child abuse.

"Never received Rp3 billion, I only read news about it. The first time I heard it was when I was examined at the KPK and I said I never received it and I know no one has received it," said Hotma who was presented in an online trial, Monday, June 21 .

Hotma Sitompul said that when he was contacted by the Director General of Social Rehabilitation at the Ministry of Social Affairs, Harry Hikmat, he first handled cases of child abuse.

However, he did not deny that there had been communication with Juliari Peter Batubara and officials from the Ministry of Social Affairs. But only limited to handling cases and not discussing payments or fees at all.

"The Minister said that it was difficult for me to contact him, he could contact Pak Adi Wahyono to remind him to contact the Attorney General," said Hotma.

"There is no (fee). I used the name LBH Mawar Saron for my defense," he continued.

Hotma confirmed that the Ministry of Social Affairs had given a fee. But he did not receive the fee but returned it, which was eventually given to children involved in cases of violence.

"My honor is Rp. 10 million or Rp. 11 million and all of my subordinates Rp. 2 million, we return it to the mother who gave it to be given to the NF child because we are pro bono, we are concerned about the minor. The return is done right away, July 2020, " said Hotma.

Previously, in the indictment trial, former Social Minister Juliari Batubara revealed the fact that there was a flow of social assistance corruption funds to the famous lawyer Hotma Sitompul worth Rp. 3 billion.

Meanwhile, in the indictment, the KPK prosecutor detailed that the money was given to Hotma Sitompul through Juliari Batubara's subordinates Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono.

"In about July 2020 Matheus Joko Santoso and Adi Wahyono handed over the social assistance fee of Rp. 3 billion to the defendant and then on the defendant's orders, the money was given to Hotma Sitompul for attorney fees for handling child abuse cases," said the prosecutor reading the indictment at the trial in Corruption Court, Wednesday, April 21.

In addition, Juliari also uses the social assistance fee for various purposes. For example, paying for the services of the singer Cita Citata to buying sacrificial cows.

In the indictment, there were 11 activities that used the fee money to pay bills. If the total fee spent to pay bills reaches Rp. 1.7 billion.