Regarding Hasto Not Detained After Being Examined, KPK: Investigators Still Need Time

KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika. (Tsa Tsia-VOI)

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has examined the Secretary General of the PDI-P (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto as a suspect in alleged bribery in managing the interim replacement (PAW) of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives and the obstruction of the investigation today, Monday, January 13. He was not detained because examination of other witnesses still had to be carried out.

"The person concerned was not detained today because investigators still need time to examine several witnesses who are still not present and are still needed (his statement, ed)," said KPK spokesman Tessa Mahardhika to reporters at the KPK's Red and White House, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Monday, January 13.

A number of witnesses who have not been present include Maria Lestari as a member of the Indonesian House of Representatives from the PDIP faction to PDIP cadre Saeful Bahri. This condition, continued Tessa, made investigators choose not to immediately detain Hasto.

"Investigators assess that there is no need for detention and of course if investigators and public prosecutors agree that the files are ready to be transferred, the process will continue," he said.

Even so, Tessa said Hasto would be summoned again in the future. This process was also not hindered by a pretrial lawsuit filed by the politician to the South Jakarta District Court (PN) on January 10.

This is because the pretrial and investigation processes are two different things. The filing of the lawsuit, called Tessa, is a form of testing the formal cases handled.

Sementara penyidikan adalah untuk mengusut tindak pidana yang terjadi. Sangkutan pasti dianggil lagi, tegasnya.

"But the focus of the investigators at this time is to fulfill the elements of the case in the criminal act that was suspected of him, the main focus of the testimony of witnesses who have not been present and will be summoned later for the bribery case and article 21 (the obstruction of the investigation, ed)," continued the spokesman with the investigator's background.

Hasto underwent an examination since 10:00 WIB after being questioned at around 13.26 WIB or 3.5 hours. He left the KPK's Red and White building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta accompanied by his legal team, one of which was the Chairperson of the PDIP DPP for Legal Reform Ronny B. Talapessy.

Hasto did not make any statement. However, one of his lawyers, Maqdir Ismail, said that the examination of his client in the bribery case for the management of interim replacement (PAW) members of the DPR and the obstruction of the investigation had been completed.

"I want to convey that today's inspection process has been completed. For today," Maqdir told reporters at the location.

Previously reported, the KPK developed a case of alleged bribery related to the interim replacement (PAW) of DPR members involving former KPU commissioner Wahyu Setiawan and his fugitive, Harun Masiku. Two people were named as new suspects, namely Hasto Kristiyanto and Donny Tri Istiqomah, a PDIP cadre as well as a lawyer.

Hasto is also a suspect in the obstruction case of the investigation. He is suspected of obstructing the legal process by asking Harun Masiku to damage his cellphone and run away after the arrest operation (OTT) was carried out.