Playboy Editor Cleared in Indonesia Court

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Playboy Indonesia's editor-in-chief has been cleared of charges of distributing indecent pictures to the public and making money from them, which could have led to a sentence of as long as 32 months, Reuters has reported. "This is a great gift for Playboy Indonesia," said Editor-In-Chief Erwin Arnada, calling the verdict a victory for press freedom. "Today's verdict proved press freedom is respected in this country."

A lawyer representing some Muslim groups said they would seek a new prosecution, saying, "The road which we will take is refiling the complaint not only against Playboy but also against other adult magazines."

The presiding judge at the South Jakarta court said the prosecution's arguments "could not be accepted" and "were not diligent," because they failed to take into account recent media laws allowing press freedom, which were created after the 1998 downfall of Indonesian president Suharto.

A group of 20 Islamic hardliners attended the trial, and another 200 were gathered outside. Authorities had prepared for a demonstration, with hundreds of police officers and a water cannon, but there was only muted reaction and the crowd dispersed without incident.

This decision comes almost a year after the magazine's controversial debut in Indonesia in early April 2006, when Muslim leaders decried the magazine as "moral terrorism" and readers were disappointed by the sedate nature of the pictures in the magazine, which featured cheesecake poses but no full nudity.

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

Bad Bella Fronts Latest From MYLF

Bad Bella stars with Hayden Wild in the latest release from MYLF.

Abella Danger Opens Up Like Never Before in X3 Magazine

Powerhouse star Abella Danger lights up the latest issue of X3 magazine, the industry’s premier “authenticity first” publication spotlighting the real personalities, passions, and stories behind today’s top creators.

Pure Taboo Debuts Bree Mills Thriller 'Let Me In Too'

Reagan Foxx stars with Shay Sights in the latest thriller from Pure Taboo, titled “Let Me In Too.”

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

Hookup Hotshot Adds TobyDick.com

Hookup Hotshot (HUHS) has added U.K. paysite TobyDick.com to its network.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

Leana Lovings, Shay Sights Front 'Substance' Parody From Brazzers

Leana Lovings stars with Shay Sights in the latest release from Brazzers, a parody of "The Substance.”

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More