Saeful Bahri's Confession About Hasto Bailout Funds, Only To Lie To His Wife Because He Came Home Late

JAKARTA - Former PDI-P cadre Saeful Bahri said his testimony regarding the Rp400 million fund that became bribery fund for the management of the Inter-Time Substitution (PAW) sourced from the Secretary General (Sekjen) of the PDIP, Hasto Kristiyanto, was just a lie that he deliberately made for his wife because he came home late.

This confession was conveyed when he was questioned by Hasto Kristiyanto's attorney, Maqdir Ismail, during the trial.

Saeful Bahri was initially confirmed about the investigation report (BAP) on February 11, 2020, when he was still a suspect in the Harun Masiku case.

The BAP explains that Saeful spoke with his wife on December 13, 2019. It was mentioned about the Rp400 million bailout for Harun's bribe from Hasto.

"That the intention of saying 'the funds were masterminded by Mr. Hasto' was finally just a speech from my scenario to convince my wife because I came home late," asked Maqdir reading the BAP at the trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday, May 22.

"That's right," replied Saeful.

Hearing this, Maqdir concluded that Saeful's testimony was inconsistent. This is because there are differences in statements submitted to investigators and in the trial.

Saeful's statement that said the Rp 400 million from Hasto was also questioned because it did not match the facts.

"But it turns out here you say this is a lie. You lied to your wife. Is that right?" asked Maqdir.

"Yes, that's right," replied Saeful.

In the alleged bribery case, Hasto was jointly charged with advocate Donny Tri Istiqomah; the former convict of the Harun Masiku case, Saeful Bahri; and Harun Masiku gave money amounting to 57,350 Singapore dollars or equivalent to Rp600 million to Wahyu in the 2019-2020 period.

The money is allegedly given with the aim that Wahyu seeks the KPU to approve an interim replacement request (PAW) for the Elected Legislative Candidate for the Electoral Region (Dapil) of South Sumatra (Sumsel) I on behalf of DPR Members for the 2019-2024 period Riezky Aprilia to Harun Masiku.

In addition, Hasto was also charged with obstructing the investigation by ordering Harun, through the Aspiration House guard, Nur Hasan, to submerge Harun's cell phone into the water after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) arrested members of the General Election Commission (KPU) for the 2017-2022 period Wahyu Setiawan.

Not only Harun Masiku's cellphone, Hasto is also said to have ordered his aide, Kusnadi, to drown his cell phone in anticipation of forced attempts by KPK investigators.

Hasto is threatened with a crime as regulated in Article 21 and Article 5 Paragraph (1) letter a or Article 13 of Law (UU) Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended and supplemented by Law Number 20 of 2001 in conjunction with Article 65 Paragraph (1) and Article 55 Paragraph (1) 1 jo. Article 64 Paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.