According to statements made in a podcast hosted by Denny Sumargo and subsequently addressed by legal representation, public disputes between Sarwendah and Ruben Onsu have triggered online harassment directed at their children. Minola Sebayang, legal counsel for Ruben Onsu, responded on Thursday, July 30, 2026, at his office in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta, questioning the timing of the bullying claims and detailing ongoing complications regarding supervised visitation.
Legal Counsel Questions Bullying Timeline and Media Focus
Minola Sebayang disputed the narrative that Ruben Onsu’s public statements directly caused the harassment faced by the children. According to Minola Sebayang, if public fallout were the primary driver, the bullying would have surfaced immediately following the initial press conference regarding unpaid financial support.
“If indeed the children were bullied, they should have been bullied from the start when the first press conference happened from them stating that Ruben no longer provided financial support. We didn’t say anything,” Minola Sebayang stated at his South Jakarta office.
Minola Sebayang also suggested that public scrutiny disproportionately targets Ruben Onsu’s side. He indicated that external factors and broader media exposure could influence how children perceive the situation, raising concerns about why public attention focuses heavily on his client.
Visitation Disputes and Fear of Spontaneous Comments
Minola Sebayang outlined Ruben Onsu’s desire to spend quality time with his three children freely and without adult supervision, including the exclusion of Sarwendah from visitation settings. According to Minola Sebayang, the resistance to unsupervised visits stems from a fear that the children might speak candidly or reveal private matters spontaneously.
“As Ruben said, give those children to be with him freely without supervision. Including the mother doesn’t need to meddle, because he is the father,” Minola Sebayang explained.
To illustrate this concern, Minola Sebayang referenced an incident following the death of Sarwendah’s parent. According to Ruben Onsu’s account, when he greeted the children at school the day after attending the wake, one child allegedly asked, “Yesterday, dad came for image-building, right?” Minola Sebayang argued that this specific vocabulary use fuels apprehension that children might voice similar phrases if left unsupervised with their father.
Sarwendah’s Account of Digital Harassment and Child Protection
During her appearance on Denny Sumargo’s podcast, Sarwendah expressed deep concern that media coverage of the marital issues would reach her children. Despite monitoring their social media accounts, she noted that she could not control external peers or prevent digital rumors from reaching them.
With visible emotion and a voice trembling, Sarwendah defended her children’s character, describing them as polite, well-behaved, and high-achieving. She specifically addressed a reported instance involving the term “image-building” (pencitraan), stating that her child had no prior familiarity with the concept.
“One thing I want to clarify correctly. My children are good children, very polite, achieving. So not a single time did they utter words, Nia said ‘Image-building’, I called the nanny. ‘Does Nia know what image-building is?’. ‘I am hearing it for the first time’, but with those words my child was bullied on their school’s social media, bullied and called ungrateful children. My child didn’t do that, but was reviled,” Sarwendah stated during the podcast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who represents Ruben Onsu in the legal discussions regarding the family dispute?
According to official statements, Minola Sebayang serves as the legal counsel for Ruben Onsu.
Where did Sarwendah make her statements regarding the impact of the dispute on her children?
Sarwendah addressed the issue publicly during an appearance on a podcast hosted by Denny Sumargo.
What specific concern did legal counsel raise regarding unsupervised visits?
Minola Sebayang suggested that the reluctance to allow unsupervised visits stems from a fear that the children might make spontaneous remarks or ask direct questions without an adult present to monitor the conversation.