The COVID-19 Pandemic Eases, KPK Increases Search For Fugitive Harun Masiku

Deputy Chairman of the KPK Nurul Gufron (Photo: Wardhani Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will step up the search for fugitive former PDI-P legislative candidate Harun Masiku. This increase was carried out because the COVID-19 pandemic, which was said to be a search obstacle, had gradually subsided.

"Now that COVID-19 has subsided, it will also be our commitment to increasing our search for Harun Masiku", said KPK Deputy Chair, Nurul Ghufron, to reporters at the KPK's Red and White Building, Kuningan Persada, South Jakarta, Tuesday, November 16.

Ghufron said that his party had been committed from the start to find Harun, who is a suspect in the case of interim replacement bribery (PAW) for members of the Indonesian House of Representatives. In fact, to facilitate searches abroad, his party has asked for assistance from NCB Interpol.

"Once again, we are committed from the start. Because everyone who is already on the wanted list, we will definitely search", he said.

Previously, the Deputy for Enforcement and Execution of the KPK, Karyoto, said that he was eager to immediately arrest Harun. However, his wish had to be put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, Harun is said to be no longer in Indonesia but abroad. "We want to go there and are confused because of how many years the pandemic has been", said Karyoto some time ago.

As a reminder, Harun Masiku was named as a suspect in giving bribes to KPU Commissioner, Wahyu Setiawan, in January 2020. This bribery was carried out so that he could easily sit as a member of the DPR RI through interim shifts or PAW.

Harun's escape began when the KPK carried out an arrest operation regarding this case on January 8, 2020. In the silent operation, the KPK named four suspects, namely Harun Masiku, Wahyu Setiawan, former Bawaslu Member Agustiani Tio Fridelina, and Saeful Bahri.

However, Harun, who was not caught by OTT (arrest operation), is unknown. He reportedly fled to Singapore but returned to Indonesia the day after.