Eliminate Impressions Of The "Medan Block" Bulu Case, KPK Must Dare To Call Bobby Nasution-Kahiyang

JAKARTA - Former Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs (Menko Polhukam) Mahfud MD reminded the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to dare to summon Medan Mayor Bobby Nasution and his wife who is also the son of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), Kahiyang Ayu. This step is to show that law enforcement is indiscriminate.

This was conveyed by Mahfud in his podcast Frankly Open which was uploaded via Mahfud MD Official's YouTube account. At that time he was asked about the term Blok Medan in the trial of former North Maluku Governor Abdul Gani Kasuba who referred to the names of Bobby and Kahiyang.

"If you want to enforce the law (in a real way, ed), it eliminates the impression that this should be indiscriminate, you should be called at least (explaining, red) 'Blok Medan'," Mahfud said as quoted on Wednesday, August 7.

Mahfud said the anti-corruption commission should not just let the information pass even though the verdict against Abdul Gani Kasuba has not yet been knocked. "If you don't (involved, red) you don't have to be afraid, after all, you're brave, people come to be called," said the former Chief Justice of the Constitutional Court (MK).

Furthermore, Mahfud also said that he had been questioned by the KPK first. However, he who asked for it because he felt slandered for receiving Rp4 billion in cash related to the West Kotawaringin case.

"The demonstration there, he said, was that the Constitutional Court Judge got a lot, Mr. Mahfud was in the media. (Then, ed) I came to the KPK, here I asked to be examined, he said I received money through kiai in Cirebon, he said I was paid Rp 4 billion. Kiai cirebon who? Finally it disappeared (the news, ed)," he said.

So, he hopes that this kind of spirit can be imitated by other officials. "There's no need to complicate it if it's clean rather than developing gossip," said Mahfud.

As previously reported, the Head of the North Maluku ESDM Office, Suryanto Andili, revealed the term 'Medan Block' in the trial of the defendant Abdul Gani Kasuba. This name is often used in the Mining Business Permit (IUP) process in North Maluku.

At that time, Suryanto explained that the Medan Block referred to the Mayor of Medan Bobby Nasution after being asked by the prosecutor. Meanwhile, Abdul Gani actually said that the term refers to Kahiyang as Jokowi's son who is also the wife of Bobby.

Responding to the appearance of this name, KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardika said the opportunity to summon Bobby Nasution and Kahiyang at the trial was open. Both can be presented if they match the needs of the prosecutor.

"If indeed the witness testimony in question is really needed in order to strengthen the judge's confidence to decide the case, of course, a summons can be made," said Tessa to reporters at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, quoted on Tuesday, August 6.

Tessa said experiences like this had occurred during the trial of former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo in cases of extortion and gratification. At that time, the prosecutor presented the General Treasurer of the NasDem Party Ahmad Sahroni as a witness outside the file.

However, if it is not directly related to the case that was tried, the prosecutor can make a prosecution development report. "To be submitted to the leadership and decided later, analyzed in exposure," said Tessa.

"Or if there is an investigation warrant that is still ongoing, the statement at the trial can be given by the prosecutor to investigators who are currently carrying out the investigation process if the information is needed to strengthen the ongoing investigation," continued the spokesman with the investigator's background.

Even so, Tessa ensured that the summoning process would not be carried out arbitrarily. Efforts to request information, for example, occur, are confirmed to make the case clear.

"It is impossible for investigators to call only to cool in the room. There must be a purpose because all the purposes of summoning witnesses are to strengthen the fulfillment of the criminal element being handled," he explained.