Prominent Indonesian lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea has withdrawn as counsel for former senior prosecutor Febrie Adriansyah, citing worsening health after spinal surgery. The move comes six days after Hotman joined Febrie’s defense. Febrie faces an alleged corruption and money-laundering case linked to the handling of the PT Asabri investigation in Jakarta.

JAKARTA, thekabarnews.com—Prominent Indonesian lawyer Hotman Paris Hutapea formally withdrew on Thursday, July 23, as legal counsel for Assistant Attorney General for Special Crimes (Jampidsus) Febrie Adriansyah. He said his health no longer allowed him to handle a potentially lengthy case.

Hotman said he had informed Febrie of the decision two days earlier.

“I informed my client, Febrie, who is now a former Jampidsus, two days ago that I am resigning,” Hotman told reporters.

The statement means he had notified Febrie that he was stepping down from the legal team.

Hotman said his decision was entirely health-related. He underwent surgery in Singapore on July 9 for a pinched spinal nerve. His doctor instructed him not to work for two weeks. He returned to work before completing the recommended recovery period. As a result, the pain worsened.

“The doctor’s letter clearly instructed me not to work for two weeks. Four days ago, I began feeling increasingly ill,” he said, according to ANTARA.

Speaking at Medistra Hospital in Jakarta, Hotman said he planned to return to Singapore for further examination. Pain extending from his lower back to his leg had raised concerns. His condition could worsen if he continued managing a demanding case, Tirto reported.

Hotman only joined Febrie’s legal team on July 17. He accompanied him during his first questioning as a suspect at the Attorney General’s Office (AGO).

Hotman said Febrie accepted the resignation. Former senior prosecutor Massagus Farizi and other lawyers will continue representing Febrie.

The AGO has confirmed Febrie’s status as a suspect in an alleged corruption and money-laundering case. The case concerns law enforcement’s handling of the PT Asabri case between 2020 and 2024. Prosecutors said private businessman Don Ritto is also a suspect in the Asabri-linked investigation. This information is according to a separate ANTARA report.

Prosecutors opened a separate money-laundering investigation on July 20, 2026, under warrant Print-03/F.2/Fd.2/07/2026. The incident occurred after police transferred 74 kilograms of gold and foreign currency reportedly worth hundreds of billions of rupiah.

In that separate probe, prosecutors summoned Febrie, Don Ritto and two others as witnesses. The distinction is important: investigators are still examining the transferred assets as evidence, and no court has issued a final ruling on them. Prosecutors said the inquiry remains ongoing.

Hotman’s brief role also attracted attention following a confrontation with journalists. The Indonesian Journalists Association (PWI) filed police report LP/B/5291/VII/2026/SPKT/Polda Metro Jaya on July 20 over an alleged insult to the journalism profession. They also submitted video evidence.

The complaint remains an allegation and is separate from Febrie’s case. All suspects retain the presumption of innocence unless found guilty through a final court judgment.