Read Pledoi, PDIP Secretary General Hasto Calls Harun Masiku's Arrest Can Explain Cases

PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto when reading the plea or memorandum of defense at the Corruption Court (Tipikor), Jakarta, Thursday (10/7/2025). ANTARA/Agatha Olivia Victoria

The Secretary General of the PDIP, Hasto Kristiyanto, asked the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to immediately arrest Harun Masiku. He considered that Harun's arrest would shed light on the alleged bribery case in the interim replacement (PAW) process for members of the Indonesian House of Representatives for the 2019-2024 period.

Hasto made this request when he read out the memorandum of defense or pledoi in a follow-up hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court (Tipikor), Thursday, July 10.

"That's why for the sake of justice and fairness, the defendant at this trial asked the KPK to immediately arrest Harun Masiku so that it becomes clear the main point of the bribery case," said Hasto in front of the panel of judges.

In his pledoi, Hasto questioned the validity of a number of new information that appeared in the trial, especially those submitted by former PDIP cadre Saeful Bahri.

One of them was Saeful's statement that the bailout fund for Harun came from Hasto.

The statement refers to a screenshot of a WhatsApp conversation between Saeful and Harun Masiku on December 16, 2019.

According to Hasto, the statement never appeared in the previous trial in 2019. He suspected that Saeful gave the statement because he was under pressure during the search process, where two airsoft guns were found at his home.

"This finding was then used as a press tool for Saeful Bahri, so why finally confirming the existence of the two new statements," said Hasto.

Hasto also highlighted that Saeful's statement was never directly confronted with Harun Masiku, who is still a fugitive or wanted list (DPO).

"Although this information cannot be confronted with Harun Masiku, who is currently still a DPO," said Hasto.

In this case, the public prosecutor charged Hasto with imprisonment for 7 years and a fine of Rp. 600 million, subsidiary to 6 months in prison.

"The defendant Hasto Kristiyanto was sentenced to 7 years in prison," said Prosecutor Wawan Yunarwanto in the previous trial.

Hasto was charged with advocates Donny Tri Istiqomah, former PDI-P cadres Saeful Bahri, and Harun Masiku for giving bribes of Rp 600 million to former KPU commissioner Wahyu Setiawan, for the KPU to approve PAW candidate for the South Sumatra I electoral district from Riezky Aprilia to Harun Masiku.

In addition, Hasto was also charged with obstructing the investigation. He is said to have ordered Harun, through the staff of the PDI-P Aspiration House, to submerge Harun's cell phone into the water after the arrest operation (OTT) against Wahyu Setiawan.

He is also suspected of ordering his aide, Kusnadi, to sink his cellphone as a form of anticipation for the confiscation attempt by KPK investigators.

Hasto was charged with violating Article 21 and Article 5 paragraph (1) letter a or Article 13 of Law Number 31 of 1999 concerning Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption, as amended by Law Number 20 of 2001, in conjunction with Article 65 paragraph (1), Article 55 paragraph (1) 1st, and Article 64 paragraph (1) of the Criminal Code.