April 17, 2025 | 03:30 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hotma Parapatuan Daniel Sitompul—better known as Hotma Sitompul—passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, after receiving intensive care at Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (RSCM) Kencana. He was 68 years old. A prominent figure in Indonesia’s legal landscape, he was known for representing clients in several of the country’s most high-profile and controversial cases.
After beginning his legal career at Jakarta Legal Aid (LBH) with Adnan Buyung Nasution, Hotma founded his own law firm in 1980. Over four decades, he became a go-to figure for high-stakes legal battles. Here are some of the key cases he took on:
1. The Angeline Murder Case (2015–2016)
Hotma defended Margriet Christina Megawe, accused of killing her eight-year-old adopted daughter Angeline in Bali. Margriet was later found guilty of premeditated murder. Hotma served as Margriet’s legal counsel and rejected accusations that his client was capable of such violence. He argued that Margriet loved Angeline deeply, even naming the child after her own biological mother.
Angeline was reported missing in May 2015, and her body was later discovered buried in Margriet’s yard, wrapped in a blanket, tied with rope, and clutching a doll. On February 12, 2016, Margriet was sentenced to life in prison. She died in December 2024 of end-stage chronic kidney failure after undergoing dialysis twice weekly.
2. Rizky Billar – Lesti Kejora Domestic Abuse Case (2022)
In 2022, singer Lesti Kejora reported her husband, actor Rizky Billar, for domestic violence. The abuse allegedly occurred twice on September 28, leaving Lesti with visible injuries and requiring hospitalization. CCTV footage, photos, and medical reports supported the claim.
As legal proceedings intensified, Billar retained Hotma as his attorney. On October 12, 2022, Hotma confirmed he had been appointed as legal counsel. The case was ultimately dropped after Lesti withdrew her report, citing reconciliation. “God willing, this will be a lesson for both of us,” she said on October 18, 2022.
3. Baim Wong vs. QQ Production (2019)
Actors Baim Wong and Lucky Perdana were sued by QQ Production for breach of contract and alleged fraud, with the management firm seeking Rp100 billion in damages. The case centered around broken promises and failed obligations under a talent management agreement.
Hotma represented Baim Wong and succeeded in securing a legal victory. The Bogor District Court ruled in favor of Baim, dismissing the lawsuit and declaring him free of any obligation to pay damages.
4. Raffi Ahmad Drug Case (2013)
In 2013, popular entertainer Raffi Ahmad was arrested by the National Narcotics Agency (BNN) for using methylone. He was accused of not only consuming drugs but also providing the venue and conspiring to commit a narcotics offense.
Hotma came to Raffi’s defense, reportedly pro bono. A 2022 video on Rans Entertainment’s YouTube channel revealed that Hotma represented Raffi out of belief in his potential and innocence. “I saw promise in him. It would be a shame for his career to end this way,” Hotma said in the video. “And second, I truly believed he was innocent. That is why we defended him.”
Mutia Yuantisya, Vedro Imanuel Girsang, and Clara Maria Tjandra Dewi contributed to the writing of this article.
Editor’s Choice: Indonesian Senior Lawyer Hotma Sitompul Passes Away at 68
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