Ministry Of Defense Appoints Hotman Paris As Legal Counsel For The Hoax Case Of Purchase Of Used Mirage
JAKARTA - The Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) appointed Hotman Paris as a lawyer to take steps related to the alleged spread of hoaxes (hoaxes) which were considered detrimental to the institution and the Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto.Deputy Minister of Defense (Wamenhan) Lt. Gen. TNI (Ret.) M. Herindra announced the appointment of Hotman during a press conference at the Indonesian Ministry of Defense Office, Jakarta, Monday, February 12."On behalf of the Ministry of Defense, I would like to thank Hotman Paris Hutapea for his legal assistance," Herindra told Hotman who was also present at a press conference as reported by Antara.He also invited journalists and community groups who wanted to ask the Ministry of Defense's legal steps regarding the bribery hoax for buying Mirage along with false news about PT TMI to Hotman."Please ask Mr. Hotman Paris directly as the attorney for the Ministry of Defense regarding the technical and legal steps we take," said M. Herindra.In the same press conference, the Deputy Minister of Defense also straightened out two issues which he referred to as hoaxes, the first was related to the alleged bribery of buying Mirage and the second was about the alleged PT TMI as a company that controlled various defense equipment purchases, especially as long as the Ministry of Defense was led by Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto.Regarding the issue of bribery in the purchase of 12 units of former Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft, the Deputy Minister of Defense emphasized that the issue was misleading news because the purchase of the plane was canceled."The plan to purchase Mirage 2000-5 has not occurred due to limited fiscal space," said the Deputy Minister of Defense.In the same press conference, Spokesperson for Defense Minister Dahnil Ahzar Simanjuntak continued to explain the cancellation because the Indonesian government was unable to pay a certain amount of money as a condition for the purchase."Because there was a fiscal limitation earlier, we didn't have the ability to (pay, ed). In the end, the contract was not effective because the conditions were not fulfilled. So, it is impossible to bribe because there is no transaction," Dahnil said in response to reporters' questions.Dahnil also emphasized that the Indonesian government did not spend a penny during the purchase process, which was canceled by the Indonesian Ministry of Defense.Then, regarding the second issue, the Deputy Minister of Defense emphasized that there was no contract for procurement of defense equipment between the Ministry of Defense and PT TMI.He also emphasized that the Indonesian Ministry of Defense would take legal steps regarding the spread of the two hoaxes.Hotman Paris, as the attorney for the Ministry of Defense, mentioned several hoaxes circulating, including videos showing photos of Defense Minister Prabowo and a Greek politician who is also a member of the European Parliament Eva Kaili circulating on several social media platforms.Dia kepada media menyebut bakal menunggu masa tenang Pemilu 2024 berakhir untuk pada akhirnya memutuskan langkah hukum seperti apa yang akan diterapkan terkait penyebaran hoaks-hoaks tersebut.
"There has been no decision (report to the Police, ed.), we will wait for that later," said Hotman Paris in response to reporters' questions during a press conference.