A copyright complaint filed by songwriter Yoni Dores against Indonesian popular dangdut singer Lesti Kejora ended without criminal charges after police concluded that the facts gathered in their inquiry did not meet the elements of a crime. The case had drawn public attention because it touched on recurring questions in Indonesia about song performance permits, royalty obligations, and liability for content uploaded to digital platforms.
The dispute began after Yoni Dores reported Lesti to the Regional Police of Jakarta in May 2025, accusing her of performing and circulating his songs without permission, with media reports saying the complaint referred to songs allegedly used since 2018 and was linked to uploads on YouTube and social media. One report said the issue centered on the song “Bagai Ranting yang Kering” while a later police explanation highlighted another Yoni Dores song, “Arjuna Buaya,” as part of the factual background reviewed during the inquiry. In October 2025, Lesti appeared for questioning at the Police, where she was examined as the reported party while publicly signaling that she was open to a peaceful resolution.
The turning point came when investigators reviewed the underlying performance arrangement and found a contractual clause stating that royalty clearance was the responsibility of the event organizer rather than the singer. Police also found that the performance video later uploaded to YouTube did not come from Lesti Kejora’s personal account, a fact that weakened the allegation that she herself had unlawfully distributed the work online. According to news reports and follow-up coverage, investigators questioned multiple witnesses and experts before formally deciding on 29 January 2026 to stop the inquiry because the matter was considered not to constitute a criminal offense.
After the closure became public in February 2026, Lesti’s side said the singer had not been found to have committed a criminal act and indicated there was no need for a meeting with Yoni Dores because the legal position was already clear. Her husband also spoke on her behalf, said the family wanted the matter to end and described the experience as a lesson in being more careful about song selection and licensing issues. Outside straight news coverage, legal commentary and academic discussion around the case argued that the dispute exposed wider weaknesses in Indonesia’s copyright ecosystem, including confusion over licensing practice, royalty administration, and the division of responsibility between performers, organizers, and digital uploaders.
Lesti Kejora is the stage-name of Lestiani, a dangdut singer whose claim to fame began when she won a talent competition held by a national TV station in Indonesia at just 14 years old. Amassing more than 28 million followers in Instagram, she is now one of the most popular as well as the highest-paid singers of the genre, which is homegrown in the country combining elements from Arabic, Indian, and western-style rock music.