KPK Investigators Object To Witness The Trial, Kubu Hasto: What Do You Want To Explain?

Secretary General (Sekjen) of the PDI Perjuangan (PDIP), Hasto Kristyanto. (Rizky A-VOI)

The PDIP Secretary General's (Secretary General), Hasto Kristiyanto, questioned the clarity of the status and testimony of the witness, Arif Budi Raharjo, who is an investigator of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

Arif Budi Raharjo is one of two witnesses presented by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) at the trial of the alleged bribery case for the interim replacement (PAW) of members of the Indonesian House of Representatives and the obstruction of the investigation that made Hasto Kristiyanto a defendant.

It started when Ronny Talapessy asked for clarity on the witness to the panel of judges. Given, the prosecutor has presented Rossa Purbo Bekti, who is a KPK investigator at the previous trial.

Rossa Purbo Bekti has submitted his statement by referring to the documents of the examination results of other parties.

"Permission, Your Majesty. This is what investigators present, right? What we want to ask, what do you want to explain and where will it be conveyed? So that this becomes clear," said Ronny in a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Friday, May 16.

Clarity of the status and testimony of witnesses is important. The goal is not to cause a unilateral interpretation of his testimony.

"We are currently testing the truth of the file in this courtroom. Therefore, please allow the panel to be explained so that there are signs from the front that we agree on," said Ronny.

Responding to the objection, the prosecutor explained that the witness presented was still part of a series of fact witnesses who would provide information regarding the incident on January 8, 2020 at the Police Science College (PTIK).

The moment was said to have occurred when investigators were about to arrest Harun Masiku.

"We hope that from the front we agree that what will be explained later is the incident on January 8, 2020," said Ronny.

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.