Today's Hasto Session, KPK Presents Key Witness Hasyim Asy'ari

Former chairman and commissioner of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU), Hasyim Asy'ari (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The Public Prosecutor (JPU) of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will present two witnesses at the trial of the alleged bribery case for the management of the Interim Substitution (PAW) of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives and the obstruction of the investigation with the defendant. PDIP Secretary General, Hasto Kristiyanto.

Of the two witnesses who will be presented, one of them is the former chairman and commissioner of the Indonesian General Elections Commission (KPU), Hasyim Asy'ari.

"Witness Hasyim Asy'ari," said KPK Prosecutor Budhi S to reporters, Friday, May 16.

Meanwhile, for one other witness, namely Arif Budi Raharjo, who is a KPK investigator. In fact, Arif had been presented at the previous trial. However, due to limited time, his statement has not been heard at trial.

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.