Kamaruddin Simanjuntak Dies at Pelni Hospital Following Long Illness
Prominent Indonesian lawyer Kamaruddin Simanjuntak died at Pelni Hospital in West Jakarta at 3:00 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2026, after battling a prolonged illness, detikNews reported. He was widely recognized for representing the family of the late Brigadier Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat during the high-profile 2022 murder case involving former Internal Affairs Division chief Ferdy Sambo.
Fellow attorney Martin Lukas Simanjuntak confirmed the death in a statement to reporters. According to Martin, Kamaruddin had spent the past several years requiring routine dialysis treatments at the hospital.
Legal Career and High-Profile Cases
Kamaruddin built a long career as an advocate, handling several major national cases that drew intense media scrutiny. His national profile surged in 2022 when he served as the lawyer for the family of Brigadier Yosua Hutabarat, regularly appearing in the media to advocate for his clients during the murder investigation.
Beyond the Sambo case, Kamaruddin’s legal work included involvement in several major corruption investigations, including the e-KTP corruption case, the Wisma Atlet scandal, and the Hambalang sports complex project, according to inilampung.com. He also served as the legal counsel for Muhammad Kece during his blasphemy trial. In 2019, he established his own practice under Victoria Law Firm, alongside his work with Kamaruddin Simanjuntak & Partners.
Early Life and Transition to Law
Born in Siborongborong, North Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, on May 21, 1974, Kamaruddin moved to Jakarta in 1992 after graduating from SMA Negeri 1 Siborongborong to seek employment, as reported by inilampung.com. Facing financial hardship upon arrival, he lived under a bridge in the Klender area of East Jakarta for roughly three months while taking on odd jobs.
He eventually secured a position as a customer service representative at a restaurant in 1993 before trying his hand at small business ventures and sales. That journey sparked an interest in the legal profession. He enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the Christian University of Indonesia (UKI) in Jakarta in 2000, graduating cum laude in 2004. He joined the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi) in 2007. Aside from practicing law, he ventured into politics, founding the Prosperous Indonesian Democratic Republic Party on July 7, 2020.
Funeral Arrangements and Final Rest
Kamaruddin’s body has been placed at the Tabitha Ukrida Funeral Home in West Jakarta. While fellow attorneys confirmed the location of the wake, the family has not yet finalized the details for his burial. Martin stated that funeral arrangements and the final resting place remain under discussion and depend on a final family agreement.
Related reading