Hasto Kubu Protests KPK Investigators Become Experts In Trial: We Object

PDIP Secretary General Hasto's Camp At The Trial (Special DOK/VOI)

The PDI-P Secretary General (Secretary General), Hasto Kristiyanto, rejected one of the experts presented by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) when he was about to give his views at the trial of the alleged Inter-Time Substitution (PAW) bribery case.

The rejection was conveyed by Hasto's attorney, Maqdir Ismail. The reason for the rejection was because the expert was a forensic examiner who was also an investigator at the Corruption Detection and Analysis Directorate of the KPK, Hafni Ferdian.

"Yant Mulia, before we submit it, we object to the presence of expert Hafni Ferdian, because he is a KPK employee who is an investigator in this case. How can he become an expert because after all this what he will convey is based on the results of the investigation he participated. So in our opinion, he should not be an expert in this case," said Maqdir in a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday, May 26.

In fact, Maqdir doubted the objectives of the expert. This is because the expert presented by the prosecutor is considered to have received a salary from the KPK.

"Then the third is also paid by the KPK. So if we want to talk about objectivity and also independence in providing information as an expert, in our opinion he cannot do it. So please we object to his presence as an expert in this case," he said.

Responding to the protest, the chairman of the panel of judges, Rios Rahmanto, asked for a response from the prosecutor who directly said that Hafni was not paid by the KPK. Then, he did not serve as an investigator in handling the Hasto Kristiyanto case.

"First, regarding Hafni Ferdian's experts, we examine them in their capacity as their expertise. The second is indeed in this case that the person concerned lists them as investigators, but not investigators in this case," said the prosecutor.

"The third was conveyed by a legal advisor who was paid by the KPK, no, he was paid by the state because his status was an ASN. So it was not paid by the KPK," he continued.

Hearing this explanation, Maqdir highlighted the professionalism of experts because it was feared that they would not be able to separate their capacity as investigators and experts.

"The problem is whether this brother as an investigator can separate what he understands and he knows as an investigator at that time, and then now we make him an expert because after all. We are worried that this he cannot separate it, so that his objectivity as an expert does not exist. That's the main problem there, Your Majesty," said Maqdir.

The judge said Hafni would testify in his capacity to explain his expertise even though he also worked as a KPK investigator. The judge asked Hasto's advisory team to submit their objections to the memorandum of defense or plea.

"In connection with that regarding his expertise. As for the objectivity, please submit it later in a pledoi, and we will also value that later. However, for the sake of objections from the defendant's legal advisor, we will note it in the minutes," said the chairman of the panel of judges, Rios Rahmanto.

"Similarly, I think the defendant's legal advisor, we note your objections, however, we will still hear about his opinion according to his expertise," continued Rios.

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.