Reviewing The Allegation Of Khofifah's Health Protocol Violation And Its Investigation

Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa (Photo: Twitter @JatimPemprov)

JAKARTA - The Governor of East Java, Khofifah Indar Parawansa, has attracted attention for being reported in a case of the alleged violation of health protocols (prokes). She was reported as the result of her birthday celebrations that sparked a crowd.

Referring to the video uploaded to the Twitter account @LaporCovid, Khofifah held a birthday party during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dozens of people attended the event which took place at the Grahadi Building on May 19.

Several people who attended the event were seen wearing masks. But, there are also those who don't use it. They gathered at the location of the event.

The birthday party was quite lively. Because presenting the capital artist Katon Bagaskara and his band personnel.

As a result of the event, 98's Activist Group of Suroboyo Tangi reported Kofifah to the East Java Police. In fact, Deputy Governor Dardak Emil Elestianto and East Java Provincial Acting Secretary Heru Tjahjono were also reported for alleged violations of health procedures.

There were at least two police reports following the event. The first report is related to Article 14 paragraphs 1 and 2 of Law 4 of 1984 concerning Communicable Disease Ouparagraph breaks, Article 93 of Law 6 of 2018 concerning Health Quarantine, and Article 216 of the Criminal Code.

Meanwhile, the second report is related to the alleged gratification. Allegedly the birthday celebration event was using the Local Government Budget. Thus, it is reported under Article 5 and Article 12 of Law 20 of 2001 concerning Criminal Acts of Corruption.

The Head of Public Relations of the East Java Police, Grand Commissioner Gatot Repli Handoko, confirmed that his party had received reports regarding the alleged violation of the health protocol. The report is being studied by the team.

"We have received the report. We are currently investigating the report regarding the violation of health protocols," he said.

Not long after, the East Java Police began the investigation process. The investigative team conducted a crime scene (TKP) and examined witnesses in the crowd case.

"The East Java Police have examined the reporting witnesses. We have also carried out crime scene investigations, and now we are still in the analysis process," said Gatot.

However, Gatot did not explain in detail the number of witnesses and when the examination was conducted. He only said that the police had conducted a crime scene at the Grahadi State building, Surabaya, on Tuesday, May 25.

Gatot hopes that the public will be patient, because investigators are currently still working on investigating the case.

"So give us investigators the opportunity to carry out investigations professionally," he said.

Meanwhile, Khofifah through the Instagram account @jatimpemprov officially submitted an apology. She also called the birthday celebration event was without her knowledge.

"I apologize profusely if anyone has read the news or viral video with the sound of Khofifah's birthday party, there is a crowd or something similar," she wrote.

In the upload, Khofifah also mentioned that the event was without her permission. Then, there are no activities that come into direct contact.

"That the celebration on May 19 was all prepared without my knowledge, let alone my approval. The news that appeared tended to be non-factual and not objective," said Khohifah.

"There is no birthday song, no birthday greeting, there is no greeting or line up, nor is there a cut of birthday cake," she continued.

In the event, there were charity activities for orphans and other religious activities. In addition, there was also a handover of books on handling COVID-19 by one of the doctors from Airlangga University.

In the upload, Khofifah emphasized that only 31 people attended the activity. They were present without an assistant.

"Those who attended were the Deputy Governor (without a wife), I was without a son, the regional secretary and several OPDs were all unaccompanied by 31 people," she said.

Meanwhile, regarding the band and the presence of Katon Bagaskara, Khofifah said that the previous day the capital city had activity in Surabaya. In fact, Katon is said to be a colleague of the Regional Secretary.

Then, Khofifah also said that the location capacity and the number of people present were very different. So, they don't jostle.

"The place in the yard outside the normal capacity can be 1,000 people, if added to the side, it can be up to 1,500 people. But 31 people were present plus 10 orphans and 8 Salawat and tambourine teams," she wrote.

At the end of her statement, Khofifah also said that she had never thought of holding a birthday celebration. The reason is, it is not the culture or the customs.

"The angle that was taken seemed to be in a crowd. I apologize, there was no thought of a thanksgiving plan with the OPD let alone a birthday party, far from my tradition. The standing position is the position before the dispersal because basically the invitation to sit down. Except for the catering team and the general section," she insisted.