Haris Azhar And Fatia Sentenced To Free In Luhut's Defamation Case

The defendant, Director of Lokataru Haris Azhar, answered the prosecutor's question in a follow-up hearing at the East Jakarta District Court, Monday, August 21, 2023. (ANTARA)

The panel of judges at the East Jakarta District Court acquitted Haris Azhar and Fatia Maulidiyanty in the alleged defamation case of the Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment (Menko Marves) Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan.

The verdict was read out by the Chief Justice of the Panel of Judges, Cokorda Gede Ardahaha at the East Jakarta District Court on Monday, January 8.

"Freed the defendant Haris Azhar from all charges. Freed the defendant Fatia Maulidiyanty from all charges," said Judge Cokorda.

The panel of judges sentenced them to acquittal because both of them were deemed not legally and convincingly proven to have committed a criminal act charged by the public prosecutor, ranging from alleged criminal acts of insult, defamation, maupum spreading false news.

"Declaring that the defendant Haris Azhar (and Fatia Maulidiyanty) are not legally and convincingly proven guilty of committing a criminal act as charged by the public prosecutor in the first indictment, the second primary indictment, the second subsidiary indictment and the third indictment," said Judge Cokorda.

Previously, the prosecutor demanded that Haris Azhar be sentenced to 4 years in prison in the case. Meanwhile, Fatia was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison.

In their demands, the prosecutor believed that Haris and Fatia violated Article 27 paragraph 3 in conjunction with Article 45 paragraph 3 of the ITE Law in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code.