Guard Firli Bahuri Intimidating Two Acehnese Journalists, KPK: Search For Members Or Not

KPK chairman Firli Bahuri during the 'roadshow' of the KPK Bus and 'road to Hakordia' 2023 at the Meuseuraya Aceh (BMA) Center, in Banda Aceh, Thursday (9/11/2023).

JAKARTA - Two Acehnese journalists are suspected of being intimidated by Firli Bahuri's bodyguards. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it would confirm the truth of the incident.

"We will immediately check there," said Head of the KPK News Section Ali Fikri to reporters quoted on Saturday, November 11.

In addition to confirming the incident, the KPK will also investigate whether the alleged perpetrators of the intimacy are members.

"Even from the victim's confession, the party who carried out the intimidation was Firli Bahuri's bodyguard. We don't know who did that," he said.

"But what is certain is that we don't know what from KPK officers or not," continued Ali.

Intimidation of journalists is considered to have violated Law number 40 of 1999 concerning the Press. In fact, forced action to delete videos or photos by Firli's bodyguards was a violation of Article 18 paragraph 1.

"What is certain is that it is not allowed if there is intimidation of fellow journalists," said Ali.

Previously, it was reported that two Acehnese journalists were allegedly intimidated by KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri's bodyguard while covering Firli's meeting with the Aceh Indonesian Cyber Media Network (JMSI) at the Joint Secretariat (Sekber) stall of Aceh journalists.

The two are the Umar King of Kompas TV and Kompas.com journalists, and the Puja TV (local TV Aceh) reporter Lala Nurmala. At that time, Firli and JMSI were having coffee and eating durian at the Secretary of Aceh journalists, Thursday, November 9 night.

"I was approached by the police who wore plain clothes and asked me to delete the photo of Firli's meeting," said King Umar,

Apart from Umar, journalist Puja TV Nurmala also experienced the same thing, he was also asked to delete the photo of Firli's meeting.

Nurmala stated that she had taken photos and videos when Umar spoke with Firli's bodyguards, and then they were also asked to delete them.

Nurmala was then approached by Firli's bodyguard and forced to see pictures in the journalist's cellphone gallery, even to spam.

"I've deleted it, and stored it in spam. Then, it was also ordered to delete it, even though the cellphone was my privacy," said Nurmala.