Ahead Of The Verdict, Hasto Urges PDIP Cadres To Be Orderly And Not Provoked

JAKARTA - The Secretary-General of the PDI-P, Hasto Kristiyanto, appealed to all party cadres and sympathizers to remain calm and obey the law, ahead of the reading of the verdict by the panel of judges in the case of alleged interim replacement bribery (PAW) of the DPR for the 2019-2024 period and the obstruction of Harun Masiku's investigation.

Hasto emphasized the importance of discipline and an orderly attitude from all cadres, whatever decision will be read out by the panel of judges.

"To all PDIP sympathizers and cadres, when the honorable panel of judges took the decision, we urge all to remain calm and orderly. Stay disciplined as PDIP bulls," said Hasto at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Friday, July 25.

He also emphasized that PDIP cadres should not be provoked to take actions that are against the law, even though the court's decision will not be as expected.

"White waves remain obedient to the law and no one should be provoked into unlawful acts, even though we know that justice is not easy to achieve," said Hasto.

In this case, the Public Prosecutor (JPU) charged Hasto with a sentence of 7 years in prison and a fine of Rp600 million, a subsidiary of 6 months in prison if the fine was not paid.

Hasto was charged with a number of parties, namely advocate Donny Tri Istiqomah, former PDIP cadre Saeful Bahri, and fugitive politician Harun Masiku. They are suspected of giving bribes of Rp600 million to the KPU commissioner at that time, Wahyu Setiawan, in the 2019 2020 period.

The bribe aims to smooth the replacement of DPR members from the South Sumatra I electoral district, Riezky Aprilia, to be replaced by Harun Masiku through the PAW scheme.

In addition, Hasto was also charged with obstructing the investigation. He is said to have ordered Harun Masiku, through the guardian of the Aspiration House, Nur Hasan, to submerge Harun's cellphone into the water, shortly after the Hand Catch Operation (OTT) against Wahyu Setiawan.

Not only that, Hasto is also said to have ordered his aide, Kusnadi, to sink a personal cellphone, as a form of anticipation of the confiscation attempt by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

For his actions, Hasto was charged with violating Article 21 and Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001; in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1) and Article 55 paragraph (1) 1 in conjunction with Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.