Bambang Widjojanto: The KPK's Claim That Knowing Harun Masiku's Whereabouts Is Dangerous And Misleading

JAKARTA - Former Commissioner of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Bambang Widjojanto assesses the statement by the Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the Corruption Eradication Commission Karyoto regarding the whereabouts of Harun Masiku, allegedly deliberately to inform the fugitive to get out of the way immediately. Thus, he considers it absurd, dangerous, and misleading.

Harun is a suspect for giving bribes related to the arrangement of the interim replacement (PAW) for members of the DPR RI, whose whereabouts are currently unknown.

"The KPK's unilateral claim stating that it knows the whereabouts of DPO Harun Masiku is potentially absurd, dangerous, and misleading. The KPK is alleged to have intentionally notified the fugitive to immediately step aside and avoid it because law enforcement already knows his whereabouts," said BW in a written statement quoted Thursday, 26 August.

"Couldn't the KPK coordinate with law enforcement where the fugitive is located to catch him?" he added.

BW is worried that the KPK is only trying to show the public as if they are still working and are hunting for the fugitive. So, he considered that the reason for the COVID-19 pandemic that was brought up by Karyoto seemed far-fetched.

Moreover, the anti-corruption commission did not react when their inactive investigator Harun Al Rasyid found out the whereabouts of the former PDI-P candidate. "But suddenly, (KPK, ed) are now raving about Harun's whereabouts," he said.

Furthermore, BW considers that if his concern is actually being carried out by the KPK, then this is indicated as a form of misdirection and manipulation of actual law enforcement facts. He also considers this to be an obstruction of justice or hindering the investigation of a corruption case that is being carried out.

"Because it seems as if it is carrying out law enforcement but not really, even obscuring and obstructing the actual law enforcement process. In such a situation, the KPK is intentionally and consciously building a window for law enforcement which will only create a mirage of justice," said BW.

As previously reported, the Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Karyoto claimed to have learned of the whereabouts of former PDI-P candidate Harun Masiku, who is a fugitive in the bribery case for the interim replacement (PAW) of DPR members.

Karyoto even said that his party was eager to immediately arrest the fugitive.

"I am very eager to arrest if ordered. At that time, the Chairman had ordered, 'you go' but the opportunity was not there yet," said Karyoto in a press conference broadcast on the Indonesian KPK YouTube, Tuesday, August 24.

He said that the fugitive, who is now on the Interpol NCB red notice list, is no longer in Indonesia but abroad. This is what confuses the KPK to make arrests, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic is still happening.

"The place is not inside (the country, ed). We want to go there and we are confused because of how many years the pandemic has been," said Karyoto.