jpnn.com, JAKARTA – Prominent Indonesian comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono recently faced questioning as a witness at the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri). The interrogation is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of defamation and SARA (ethnic, religious, racial, and inter-group) hate speech directed at the Toraja community. The case stems from a report filed by the Toraja Youth Alliance in late 2025.
“I received a summons concerning the Toraja case. The questioning commenced at 10:30 AM WIB,” Pandji stated to reporters at the Bareskrim Polri Building in Jakarta on Monday. He disclosed that investigators from the Directorate of Cyber Crime (Dittipidsiber) subjected him to a rigorous session, posing 48 questions pertaining to the content of a video from one of his stand-up comedy performances.
Despite having previously issued a public apology, Pragiwaksono affirmed his commitment to fully cooperate with the ongoing legal proceedings. “An apology has indeed been made and is publicly accessible, but perhaps this is simply a continuation of the initial report. I will follow the process accordingly,” he explained, indicating his readiness to navigate the legal journey ahead.
Haris Azhar, Pandji Pragiwaksono’s legal counsel, clarified that Monday marked his client’s inaugural appearance for questioning as a witness. This appearance, however, was the second summons issued by authorities. Pandji was unable to attend the initial call due to being out of the country. “There were two summonses issued. However, Pandji was not in Indonesia at the time of the first,” Azhar elaborated, providing context to the delay.
Separately, Kombes Rizki Agung Prakoso, Head of Sub-directorate I at Dittipidsiber Bareskrim Polri, confirmed that the case has progressed significantly, escalating to the full investigation stage. “That’s correct, it’s now under investigation,” he affirmed, underscoring the seriousness with which authorities are treating the complaint.
The Toraja Youth Alliance initially lodged their formal complaint against Pandji Pragiwaksono with the Bareskrim Polri in November 2025. The core of their accusation centers on alleged defamation and SARA hate speech aimed at the Toraja people. The alliance specifically criticized Pandji’s stand-up material concerning the unique and sacred Toraja funeral rites, asserting that it was both demeaning and disrespectful to the dignity of their ancestral community. (antara/jpnn)
Summary
Prominent comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono recently underwent questioning as a witness at the National Police Criminal Investigation Unit (Bareskrim Polri) concerning allegations of defamation and SARA hate speech against the Toraja community. This investigation was initiated by a report from the Toraja Youth Alliance in late 2025, which criticized his stand-up material on Toraja funeral rites as demeaning. During his first appearance, Pandji faced 48 questions from investigators regarding the content of his video.
Pandji reiterated his commitment to fully cooperate with the legal process, despite having previously issued a public apology for the incident. His legal counsel clarified that Pandji missed the initial summons because he was abroad. Authorities, through Kombes Rizki Agung Prakoso, confirmed that the case has now escalated to the full investigation stage, highlighting the gravity of the complaint.