Hasto Kristiyanto Becomes A Suspect, PDIP: Politicization Of Forced Law And Criminalization

JAKARTA - The Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) stated that the determination of the Secretary General of PDIP, Hasto Kristiyanto as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was a legal politicization and forced punishment.

This statement is the PDIP's official stance in responding to the legal case that ensnared Hasto regarding the bribery case of Harun Masiku.

This official attitude was conveyed by the Chairperson of the PDIP DPP for National Legal System Reform, Ronny Talapessy and the Chairman of the PDIP DPP for Honorary Affairs, Komarudin Watubun accompanied by the PDIP DPP board.

There are 9 points that are concerned about PDIP in responding to the determination of the suspect Hasto. First, the status of this suspect only proves the long-standing information that the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP will soon be named a suspect. This has also been conveyed by the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP in Akbar Faisal's podcast some time ago.

"Second, if we look again, the summons of the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP began when he spoke critically regarding the controversy at the Constitutional Court in late 2023, then it was stopped, then reappeared when the election was over, disappeared again. We suspect that this case looks more like terror against the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP. And the whole process is very thick with the aroma of legal politicization and criminalization," said Ronny Talapessy at a press conference at the PDIP DPP office, Jakarta, Tuesday, December 24, evening.

According to Ronny, there are several indications that can be seen as forced politicization of law and punishment. Among other things, there are efforts to form public opinion that continue to raise Harun Masiku's issue, either through demonstrations at the KPK or a systematic narrative on social media that should be suspected of being mobilized by certain interested parties.

"There was an attempt to kill the character against the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP through framing and narratives that attacked personally. The leak of the Notice of Investigation (SPDP) was confidential to the mass media / public before the letter was received by the person concerned," said Ronny.

"This is an effort to create conditions to get public sympathy. Everything can be seen and assessed by the public," he continued.

Third, the bribery case of Harun Masiku has been inkracht (with permanent legal force) and the defendants have even completed their sentence. The entire trial process starts from the Corruption Court to the Cassation Court, there is not a single evidence linking the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP to Wahyu Setiawan's bribery case.

"Four, we suspect that there were criminal acts that were forced/criminalized considering that the KPK did not mention any new evidence from further examinations carried out throughout 2024," explained Ronny.

Fifth, PDIP suspects that the imposition of the Obstruction of Justice article is just a legal technical formality. The real reason is that making the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP a suspect is a political motive.

"Especially because the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP firmly expressed the party's political attitudes against efforts that undermine democracy, the constitution, as well as against brawls, abuse of power or abuse of power at the end of the power of former President Joko Widodo," said Ronny.

"In fact, this firm stance only occurred last week when the party took a firm stance by firing, among others, three cadres who were considered to have damaged democracy and the constitution," he added.

Sixth, the legal politicization of the Secretary General of the PDIP DPP is also exacerbated by the leak of the SPDP to the mass media which should be confidential and only given to the parties involved. Seventh, PDIP and the Secretary General of the PDIP DPP have and will always obey the legal process and be cooperative.

"Eightly, the PDI-P was born from great ideals to bring this Republic to justice and transparency principles. What is happening today is legal politicization," said Ronny.

"Nine, the determination of the Secretary General of the PDI-P DPP confirmed the statement by the Chairperson of the PDI-P Megawati Soekarnoputri on December 12, 2024, that the PDI-P would be chaotic or randomly related to the PDI-P's VI Congress," he continued.