When Novel Baswedan And The KPK Answered Each Other Regarding The Search For Harun Masiku

Novel Baswedan/Photo: Antara

JAKARTA - Former investigators of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) admit that they are ready to help Firli Bahuri and colleagues find a suspect in the bribery case against former General Elections Commission (KPU) Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan, Harun Masiku, who has been on the run for almost three years. However, this statement was received coldly by the anti-corruption commission.

Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, actually said that if Novel really knew about Harun's whereabouts, he could report it directly to his agency or other law enforcement officers.

The novel Baswedan again highlights the inability of the anti-corruption commission to arrest Harun Masiku, who has been on the run since January 2020. He even offered to arrest the former candidate as long as he was given the authority by KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri and other leaders.

"If you can't afford it, you can ask us to help you catch HM. I'm sure it won't take too long if Firli has the will to arrest him," Novel said in a written statement to reporters, Monday, May 23.

Not until there, Novel also criticized Firli's statement that alluded to Harun Masiku not being able to sleep well because he was being chased by the KPK. According to him, the former deputy for prosecution of the Corruption Eradication Commission should not talk about whether or not his fugitive slept well.

Firli, continued Novel, it should be the one who feels that he is not sleeping well. "Because we haven't caught HM fugitives now," he said.

"The bottom line is that whether it's true or not is not Firli's business," Novel added.

This criticism was later answered by the KPK. Ali Fikri as a spokesman for the prosecution said that anyone who knew the whereabouts of their fugitive, including Harun Masiku, should be able to report it immediately.

This step, said Ali, is more important than continuing to speak in the public sphere without any concrete action.

"We constantly invite the public, anyone who really knows the existence of HM to be able to convey it to the KPK or other law enforcement officers," said Ali in a written statement to reporters.

"So that the information can be followed up in a concrete way, instead of conveying it in a public space, which is feared that it will actually hinder the tracking process," he added.

It is certain that the KPK will continue to search for Harun Masiku. Coordination with other stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Law and Human Rights has also been carried out to monitor movements across national borders through immigration routes.

In addition, coordination with other law enforcement officers has also been carried out in the country and international institutions. "KPK has also of course coordinated with the Indonesian police as law enforcement officers who have the attributes and functions to be able to arrest a DPO," said Ali.

"Not only that, the KPK has also coordinated with many international institutions. To be able to help carry out the hunt for this HM DPO," he said.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Harun Masiku as a suspect in giving bribes to KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan since January 2020. This bribery was carried out so that he would have the convenience of sitting as a member of the DPR RI through time 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, is unknown. He reportedly fled to Singapore and is said to have returned to Indonesia.

Apart from Harun, there are actually three other fugitives who have not been caught. They are Surya Darmadi who has been on the run since 2019; Izil Azhar has been fugitive since 2018; and Kirana Kotama who has been fugitive since 2017.