Medan. A district court in Medan on Tuesday acquitted videographer Amsal Christy Sitepu of corruption charges related to the production of promotional videos for villages in Karo Regency, North Sumatra.

The case had drawn public scrutiny after prosecutors accused Amsal of inflating service fees for projects funded by village budgets. However, the alleged state loss was relatively small, with prosecutors seeking compensation of Rp 50 million (about $3,000) alongside a two-year prison sentence.

Presiding judge Yusafrihardi Girsang said the corruption charges were not proven during the trial.

“The panel of judges finds that the defendant, Amsal Christy Sitepu, has not been legally and convincingly proven to have committed the crime as charged,” Yusafrihardi said while delivering the verdict.

The court also ordered the restoration of Amsal’s rights and reputation.

Amsal broke into tears upon hearing the decision.

“These are tears of victory — not just for Amsal Christy Sitepu, but for all those in Indonesia’s creative economy. I believe this is a moment for the revival of the creative sector,” he said outside the courthouse.

The case also attracted attention from the House of Representatives’ legal affairs commission, which invited Amsal to testify earlier this week.

He told lawmakers that his fee for producing promotional videos was relatively affordable at around Rp 30 million per village. A total of 12 villages signed up for the service between 2020 and 2022, though he said actual revenue reached only Rp 300 million ($17,660) as some villages were unable to pay due to budget constraints.

“I accepted that as part of the risks of the job, especially since payment was made after completion,” he said.

Amsal argued that the pricing reflected the demanding nature of the work, which required his team to travel to remote villages in Karo Regency with challenging terrain.

However, a government audit estimated the cost should have been Rp 24 million per village, with the discrepancy prompting prosecutors to open a corruption investigation.

Amsal was named a suspect in November 2025 following questioning by investigators.

Professional groups in the creative economy criticized the prosecution, arguing that pricing for video production lacks standardized benchmarks and typically varies depending on client needs, production timelines, and logistical costs. They also noted that the alleged state loss was minimal.

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