JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko finally reported two Indonesian Corruption Watch (ICW) researchers Egi Primayogha and Miftah to the police on suspicion of defamation. Moeldoko felt aggrieved due to accusations of hunting for rent from the circulation of the antiparasitic drug Ivermectin in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Accompanied by his attorney, Otto Hasibuan, Moeldoko reported Egi and Miftah to the Criminal Investigation Unit of the Police. According to him, he had given the two ICW researchers an opportunity to clarify the allegations they made and asked them to withdraw and apologize.
"I have actually given the opportunity repeatedly to be able to explain well, provide evidence. If that is not possible, I will give another chance to apologize and withdraw, but until now my good faith has not been carried out," said Moeldoko after submitting the report. , Friday, September 10.
"So, I am forced as a citizen who has the same rights as others, I report," he added.
He emphasized that this report does not mean that he is anti-critic. This, said Moeldoko, has been proven through the 'KSP Hearing' program.
"Intentionally (there, ed) I gave the opportunity for the community to come to KSP, we received it well, we gave a mic, please be angry because there might be a communication blockage. Usually, I don't have a problem," he said.
However, this time he felt that the accusations conveyed by ICW through its researchers, namely Egi Primayogha and Miftah, had touched his personal sphere and caused losses. So, Moeldoko decided to report.
"This has to do with personal issues that must be resolved. I have a wife, have children, later this will be their burden. I don't want that," said the former TNI commander.
The polemic between ICW and Moeldoko began when ICW researcher Egi Primayogha in a discussion event revealed Moeldoko's alleged close relationship with officials from PT Harsen Laboratories, which produces and offers Ivermectin.
This allegation emerged after the search for company documents that revealed the connection between Moeldoko and the company's officials. One of them is the close relationship between high-ranking officials of PT Harsen Sofia Koswara and Moeldoko's son, Joanina Rachma, who are both shareholders in PT Noorpay Perkasa.
In addition, ICW also stated that PT Noorpay was suspected of having collaborated with the Indonesian Farmers Harmony Association (HKTI) led by Moeldoko to import rice.
ICW is ready to face MoeldokoMoeldoko's report on the two researchers was then responded to by ICW. ICW researcher Kurnia Ramadhana said that her party respects the steps taken by Moeldoko to report his critics to the police.
"ICW fully respects the steps taken by the Presidential Chief of Staff, Moeldoko, who chose the legal route to respond to public criticism," Kurnia said in a written statement received by VOI.
However, he thinks that there are actually other ways that Moeldoko can take than reporting on researchers who conduct studies such as providing relevant arguments and rebuttal evidence. Moreover, the study was actually intended to mitigate the potential for corruption, collusion and nepotism between KSP and the private sector regarding the spread of Ivermectin in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, Kurnia also considers Moeldoko to have interpreted the study too far. Egi Primayogha, as an ICW researcher who explained the Ivermectin study, never made any direct accusations against Moeldoko.
"ICW ensures that all sentences in the press release use the words 'indication' and 'allegation'. Before arriving at the conclusion of an alleged conflict of interest, we ensure that the study has gone through the process of seeking information and data from various credible sources," said Kurnia.
Furthermore, he also admitted that there was an erroneous verbal submission regarding the rice export cooperation between the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) and PT Noorpay Nusantara Perkasa. However, this has been clarified and even ICW has apologized when responding to a subpoena letter from Moeldoko's camp.
"Due to the legal steps to report to the Criminal Investigation Unit carried out by KSP Moeldoko, ICW has been accompanied by a number of legal counsel. Therefore, the legal counsel will accompany the reported party to face every stage in the Police Criminal Investigation Unit," said Kurnia.
He hopes that this report will not affect the steps of community groups to carry out the role of supervising the actions and policies taken by public officials.
"Public supervision must still be carried out so that potential deviations in power, corruption, collusion and nepotism can be detected in order to prevent losses for the wider community," he concluded.
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