DENPASAR, BALINEWS – The Denpasar District Court has declared that it lacks jurisdiction to hear a Rp25 billion civil lawsuit filed by lawyer Togar Situmorang against four media companies in Bali, ruling that the dispute falls outside the court's jurisdiction.
The panel of judges granted preliminary objections filed by the four defendants concerning the court's authority to examine and decide the case.
The ruling was issued in civil case No. 958/Pdt.G/2026/PN Dps, presided over by Chief Judge Martin. Denpasar District Court spokesperson and public relations officer I Wayan Suarta confirmed the decision on Thursday (Nov. 5, 2026).
In its ruling, the panel granted the jurisdictional objections submitted by legal representatives of Defendants I, II, III, and IV, and declared that the Denpasar District Court had no authority to examine or decide the case.
The plaintiff was also ordered to pay court costs amounting to Rp588,000.
The lawsuit targeted four media companies operating in Bali: PT Bali Intermedia Digital, which publishes Radar Bali and Radar Buleleng; PT Artha Media Fajar Bali Utama Press, publisher of Fajar Bali; PT Bali Warta Kencana, publisher of Balipolitika; and PT Mangupura Inter Media, publisher of MangupuraNews.
The decision was welcomed by the defendants and their legal representatives from the Bali Legal Aid Institute (LBH Bali).
Ignatius Rhadite, LBH Bali's Advocacy Division coordinator, said the ruling underscored the importance of resolving press-related disputes through the Press Council rather than immediately pursuing civil or criminal proceedings.
According to Rhadite, the dispute stemmed from journalistic reporting, and the procedures for resolving press disputes through the Press Council had not been fully completed.
"The press dispute resolution process through the Press Council has not been fully pursued and concluded by the plaintiff. Therefore, as long as this mechanism has not been completed, the matter remains within the jurisdiction of the Press Council," Rhadite said.
The media outlets' legal team also argued that the substantial compensation sought in the lawsuit, reportedly ranging from Rp20 billion to Rp25 billion, could constitute a form of Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP), a legal action they believe could discourage public participation and undermine press freedom.
Rhadite cited several grounds for the team's assessment, including the alleged failure to exhaust the Press Council's dispute resolution mechanism, the handling of the right of reply, and the substantial amount of compensation sought.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Ridwan, editor-in-chief of radarbali.id, expressed appreciation to the panel of judges, the legal team, and fellow journalists who had supported the four media companies throughout the proceedings.
He also thanked the journalists' solidarity network for maintaining support during the legal process.
Earlier, the Legal Advocacy Team representing the four media companies, which is part of the Bali Journalists' Solidarity Network, presented Hendrayana, a press expert from the Press Council, as an expert witness.
According to the legal team, the expert affirmed that disputes involving media coverage and journalistic products fall under the Press Council's authority.
With the court granting the preliminary objections on jurisdiction, the proceedings will not continue to an examination of the merits of the plaintiff's claims. The ruling therefore does not constitute a decision on the substantive allegations or the compensation sought in the lawsuit.
The plaintiff has up to 14 days, in accordance with the applicable civil procedure rules, to decide whether to accept the ruling or pursue an appeal before the Bali High Court.
Meanwhile, the four media companies and their legal representatives plan to hold further discussions to assess possible legal steps, including the possibility of filing a counterclaim against the plaintiff.
The ruling has drawn attention among journalists and media organizations in Bali, particularly regarding the legal mechanisms for resolving disputes involving journalistic work and the protection of press freedom in Indonesia.
