Culinary entrepreneur Tjioe Nofia Handayani, widely known as Ci Mehong, has officially closed all doors to reconciliation in her legal battle against an internet user who allegedly modified her digital content. Operating out of Jakarta, her legal team confirmed that no restorative justice options will be entertained as the investigation progresses through the Cyber Crime Directorate of the Jakarta Metro Police.
The dispute centers on unauthorized video alterations that surfaced in July 2026.
Four Warnings Before Police Action
Before lodging a formal police report on August 21, 2026, under case number LP/B/6214/VIII/2026/SPKT/POLDA METRO JAYA, the Donatlabu owner attempted to resolve the matter out of court. Defense counsel Andri Budiman stated that his team exhausted all preliminary measures by dispatching four distinct notices to the account owner.
The correspondence began with a formal clarification letter, followed by three separate warnings issued on July 22, July 28, and August 13, 2026. Because those communications went ignored, Andri Budiman asserted at the Jakarta Metro Police headquarters that restorative justice is no longer on the table, leaving only the applicable legal framework to take its course.
Expanding Legal Grounds Under the ITE Law
Investigators initially examined the complaint through the lens of electronic document interference. Legal representatives pointed specifically to Article 48 in conjunction with Article 32 of Indonesia’s Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, which penalizes the unauthorized addition or modification of digital material.
Beyond digital tampering, the legal team confirmed plans to expand the allegations into defamation claims under Article 27 of the ITE Law. Andri Budiman explained that the subsequent spread of the altered media created a cascading series of professional and personal setbacks for the business owner.
Calculating Material and Immaterial Losses
Ci Mehong’s representatives are currently calculating the wide-ranging fallout tied to the compromised media files. The evaluation covers measurable metrics like drops in social media viewership and follower counts, alongside intangible hardships.
Elaborating on the psychological strain, Andri Budiman noted that the ongoing dispute disrupted scheduled business trips, including an intended media appearance in Padang. Ci Mehong echoed those sentiments, emphasizing that unmanaged digital footprints continue to inflict lasting stress that standard retractions cannot fully erase.
Next Steps in the Metro Police Investigation
The case remains under active investigation by the Cyber Crime Directorate of the Jakarta Metro Police. Following Ci Mehong’s initial testimony as a victim-witness on September 28, 2026, authorities continue to process the expanded statutory claims.
