JAKARTA - The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, has attracted attention for being reported in a case of the alleged violation of health protocols (prokes). It was reported that the aftermath of his birthday celebrations sparked a crowd.
Referring to the video uploaded by the Twitter account @LaporCovid, Khofifah held a birthday party during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of people attended the event which took place at the Grahadi Building on 19 May.
Several people who attended the event were seen wearing masks. However, there are also those who do not use it. They gathered at the location of the event
The birthday party event was quite lively. Because, presenting the capital artist Katon Bagaskara and his band personnel.
As the result of the event, 98's Activist Group Suroboyo Tangi reported Kofifah to the East Java Regional Police. In fact, Deputy Governor Emil Elestianto Dardak and Plh East Java Provincial Secretary Heru Tjahjono were also reported on suspicion of violations of the health protocol.
There were at least two police reports in the aftermath of the event. The first report is related to Article 14 paragraph 1 and paragraph 2 of Law 4 of 1984 concerning Communicable Disease Outbreaks, Article 93 of Law 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine, and Article 216 of the Criminal Code.
Meanwhile, the second report is related to the alleged gratification. It is suspected that the birthday celebration would use the Local Budget (APBD). Thus, it is reported with Article 5 and Article 12 of Law 20 of 2001 on Corruption Crime.
Head of Public Relations of the East Java Regional Police, Grand Commissioner Gatot Repli Handoko, confirmed that his party had received a report regarding the alleged violation of the health protocol. The team is also studying the report.
"We have received the report. We are currently investigating it regarding reports of violations of health protocols," he said.
Not long after, the East Java Regional Police began the investigation process. The team of investigators conducts processing of the scene of the case (TKP) and examines the witnesses of the crowd case.
"The East Java Regional Police have examined the reporting witnesses. Then we have also carried out the TKP processing activities, and now it is still in the process of analysis," said Gatot.
However, Gatot did not explain the details of the number of witnesses and when the examination was conducted. He only said that the police had conducted the crime scene at the Grahadi State building, Surabaya, on Tuesday, May 25.
Gatot hopes that the public will be patient because investigators are currently still working on investigating the case.
"So give us the opportunity, investigators to carry out investigations in a professional manner," he said.
Meanwhile, Khofifah through the Instagram account @jatimpemprov officially submitted an apology. She also mentioned the birthday celebration event without her knowledge.
"I apologize profusely if anyone has read the news or viral videos with the sound of Khofifah's birthday party and there is a crowd or something similar," she wrote.
In the upload, Khofifah also mentioned that the event was without her permission. Then, there are no activities that come into contact directly.
"That the celebration on May 19 was all preparations without my knowledge, let alone my approval. The news that appeared tended to be not factual and not objective," said Khohifah.
"There are no birthday songs, no birthday greetings, no shaking hands or lines, no birthday cake slices," he continued.
In that event, there were activities to provide assistance to orphans and other religious activities. In addition, there was also a handover of a book on handling COVID-19 by one of the Airlangga University doctors.
Even then, Khofifah emphasized that only 31 people attended the activity. They are present without any assistant.
"The Deputy Governor (without wife), I was without son, the regional secretary, and several OPDs were all unaccompanied as many as 31 people," he said.
BACA JUGA:
Sementara soal band dan kehadiran Katon Bagaskara, Khofifah menyebut jika sehari sebelumnya aritis ibu kota itu kebetulan berkegiatan di Surabaya. Bahkan, Katon disebut sebagai rekan dari Sekda.
Kemudian, Khofifah juga menyebut kapasitas lokasi dengan jumlah orang yang hadir sangat jauh berbeda. Sehingga, mereka tidak berdesak-desakan.
"Tempat di halaman luar rumdin kapasitas normal bisa 1.000 orang, jika ditambah samping bisa sampai 1.500 orang. Tetapi yang hadir 31 orang plus 10 anak yatim dan 8 tim salawat dan rebana," tulisnya.
Di akhir pernyataanya, Khofifah juga menyebut tidak pernah terpikir untuk mengadakan perayaan ulang tahun. Alasannya, hal itu bukanlah budaya atau kebiasaannya.
"Angle yang diambil terkesan berkerumun saya mohon maaf, tidak ada terbersit rencana syukuran bersama OPD apalagi pesta ultah, jauh dari tradisi saya. Posisi berdiri adalah posisi jelang bubaran karena pada dasarnya undangan duduk. Kecuali tim catering dan bagian umum." tandas dia