Important Information: KPK Needs Arief Budiman's Testimony In Hasto's Case

Director of Investigation of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Brigadier General Asep Guntur (Tsa Tsia/VOI)

JAKARTA - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) plans to recall former Chairman of the General Elections Commission (KPU) Arief Budiman regarding the bribery and obstruction of the investigation that ensnared the Secretary General of the PDI-P (PDIP) Hasto Kristiyanto.

KPK Investigation Director Asep Guntur Rahayu said the recall was made because Arief did not fulfill the summons on Friday, January 10. Even though the information is needed to complete the file in the case that is being handled.

"So later of course, if it is called, we need a statement. So surely we will reschedule," Asep told reporters quoted on Monday, January 13.

Even so, Asep has not detailed the rescheduling. Meanwhile, the reason for Arief's absence was because he had not received a summons, which he called technical reasons.

Asep said, this incident is common for several reasons. One of them, the address in the database based on population data is no longer inhabited.

"Or also the address is correct, but the witness we summoned was out of town. Then the person concerned returned from out of town when he was about to run out," he explained.

Not only that, problems can also arise from the expedition or those who send letters. "Such conditions are confirmed so that after that rescheduling can be carried out," said Asep.

Meanwhile, Arief Budiman admitted that he did not answer the summons because he did not receive a summons. He was even just informed via text message on Friday afternoon.

"I have not received the invitation to call," said Arief when confirmed, Friday afternoon, January 10.

Arief admitted that there had been a request for rescheduling to investigators. However, he did not know exactly when.

"Not yet (information on the rescheduling of the KPK, ed). Soon it will be notified," he said.

Previously reported, the KPK developed an interim replacement bribery (PAW) case that ensnared former KPU commissioner Wahyu Setiawan and his fugitive, Harun Masiku. Two people were later named as suspects, namely PDIP Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto and Donny Tri Istiqomah who are PDIP cadres as well as lawyers.

It didn't stop there, Hasto was also a suspect in the obstruction of the investigation. He is suspected of trying to obstruct the legal process, one of which is by asking Harun to damage his cellphone and run away after the hand arrest operation (OTT) was carried out.

In this case, Hasto has been summoned by investigators to be questioned as a suspect on Monday, January 6 yesterday. However, he asked for a postponement because there was a series of PDIP Anniversary events that had already been scheduled.

He then confirmed that he would fulfill the investigator's summons on Monday, January 13. Hasto admitted that he was ready to undergo the legal process with full responsibility and would cooperate.