Novel Baswedan: If Firli Doesn't Arrest Him Soon, He Will Run Away

Former KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri after being questioned as a suspect in the alleged extortion of the former Minister of Agriculture SYL at the Police Criminal Investigation Unit Building, Friday, December 1 night. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - Former senior KPK investigator Novel Baswedan suspects that former KPK chairman Firli Bahuri could have escaped from the alleged extortion case against former Minister of Agriculture (Mentan) Syahrul Yasin Limpo (SYL).

This was conveyed by Novel, who is currently a Special Task Force (Satgassus) for Anti-Corruption Prevention at the National Police in response to online media reports about Firli Bahuri's attorney who lost contact with his client.

"I thought that if Firli doesn't arrest him, he will run away soon," Novel said in his X account, Wednesday, February 28.

In the comment, Novel added a face-covering emoji.

The former chairman of the KPK, Firli Bahuri, is currently a suspect in the alleged extortion and gratification of the former Minister of Agriculture SYL whose case is being handled by the Polda Metro Jaya.

On Monday 26 February, Firli was originally examined based on a follow-up from investigators on the prosecutor's instructions to complete the case file for the alleged extortion and gratification case.

Previously, Firli was absent from the examination which was scheduled for February 6.

Polda Metro Jaya targets the completeness of the case file for the alleged extortion and gratification case with the suspect Firli Bahuri to be completed as soon as possible.

The process of completing the files began after being returned by the DKI Jakarta High Prosecutor's Office on February 2.

In an effort to complete the case files, investigators have examined a number of other witnesses, including former Minister of Agriculture or Minister of Agriculture Syahrul Yasin Limpo, former Director of Agricultural Equipment and Machinery of the Ministry of Agriculture Muhammad Hatta; and Secretary General of the Ministry of Agriculture Kasdi Subagyono.