Otto Hasibuan Affirms Moeldoko Never Promoted Ivermectin

Otto Hasibuan/DOK ANTARA

JAKARTA - Moeldoko's Chief of Staff's attorney, Otto Hasibuan, denied that his client was promoting the drug Ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19. He said no facts were showing that Moeldoko was promoting the drug produced by PT Harsen Laboratories.

"I don't think there is any fact that Mr. Moeldoko is promoting Ivermectin. That's just what people have said. Where is the evidence that Mr. Moeldoko is promoting Ivermectin", Otto said in an online press conference, Thursday, July 29.

This statement was submitted to refute allegations by Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) that his client often promotes drugs called by BPOM as a hard worm medicine for COVID-19 therapy.

According to Otto, ICW must prove that Moeldoko is promoting. Because so far there has never been an advertisement from his client inviting the public to use Ivermectin.

"Has there ever been an advertisement (Moeldoko, ed) promoting 'use Ivermectin'? It was never like that. So we really need to talk about what criteria to promote, don't associate it like that", he said.

Moreover, there is no interest for Moeldoko to promote the drug. Given, he has nothing to do with the company that produces Ivermectin.

"I said earlier that Ivermectin is a product of PT Hansen and Indofarma. Mr. Moeldoko has nothing to do with PT Hansen. There is no legal relationship, not even with Indofarma. Nothing," said Otto.

As previously reported, Moeldoko demanded an apology from Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) for his alleged involvement with PT Harsen Laboratories, the producer of the drug Ivermectin. In addition, Moeldoko also demanded that ICW researcher Egi Primayogha submit evidence for the accusations which he considered slander.

Moeldoko's attorney gave ICW and Egi Primayogha 1x24 hours to submit evidence or state an open apology. If this is not done, then they will report the accusation to the police using the ITE Law as the basis for the report.