No Strong Witness, Judge Asked To Free Hasto

Secretary General of the PDIP DPP, Hasto Kristiyanto at Polda Metro Jaya, Tuesday, June 4. (Rizky A-VOI)

JAKARTA - The attorney for the Secretary-General of the PDIP, Hasto Kristiyanto, Patra M. Zein said that there was not a single witness who could prove his client's involvement in the alleged bribery case for the interim replacement (PAW) Harun Masiku. Thus, the panel of judges who tried the case was asked to release Hasto Kristiyanto.

"If there is no evidence of Pak Hasto's involvement, the money is not from Pak Hasto, the panel of judges must have the courage to release it," Patra said after the trial at the Jakarta Corruption District Court, Friday, April 25.

So far, seven witnesses have been presented by the Public Prosecutor (JPU) at the trial. However, none of their statements are considered to be able to prove strongly about the source of bribes originating from Hasto Kristiyanto.

Patra assessed that their testimony actually proved the mistakes of three other convicts, namely the former KPU Commissioner, Wahyu Setiawan; former Bawaslu Commissioner Agustiani Tio Fridelina; and Saeful Bahri.

"The question is, are there witnesses presented to prove the indictment against Mr. Hasto? Until today we have not seen it," he said.

"Since the beginning of the trial until this afternoon, are there witnesses who clearly explain Pak Hasto's involvement? Nothing. Are there witnesses who explain that they experienced firsthand, saw directly, heard directly, and knew firsthand that the money came from Mr. Hasto? No," continued Patra.

In fact, Patra felt that this trial was not for Hasto Kristiyanto. Instead, it seems as if to retrial the three convicts whose decisions have permanent legal force or inkrah.

"So the second point is who is actually trying this trial? Is it retrialing Agustiani Tio? Is it retrialing Wahyu loyalwan? Is this the trial of Saeful Bahri?" he said.

For this reason, Patra emphasized that he would continue to defend the Secretary General of PDIP, Hasto Kristiyanto, who was not involved in the alleged bribery case for handling PAW Harun Masiku.

"We are not tired of defending Pak Hasto as hard as we can, defending Pak Hasto completely," he concluded.