JAKARTA - Chairman of the Election Winning Body (Bappilu) of the Democratic Party Andi Arief rages on Twitter. He even accused the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) of spreading false news or hoaxes related to summoning him as a witness to investigate the alleged bribery that ensnared the inactive North Penajam Paser Regent (PPU) Abdul Gafur Mas'ud.
Through his Twitter account, @Andiarief__, Andi accused the Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, of mis-speech regarding his summons yesterday, Monday, March 28. He even admitted that he had not received a summons from the anti-corruption commission.
"Was I summoned today for the Gratification case of the North Panajam Regent? First, where is my summons," Andi said as quoted from his Twitter account @Andiarief__ on Monday, March 28.
In addition, he admitted that he was surprised why he was suddenly linked to the bribery case. Andi then questioned what the purpose of the summons was.
"The KPK spokesman said the wrong thing or intentionally treated me like this? I will call the official KPK spokesman to the DPP," he said.
Furthermore, Andi actually called back Ali Fikri to the DPP of the Democratic Party officially. In addition, he also demanded an apology from the KPK for spreading hoaxes and being unprofessional to the detriment of himself.
Then, still quoted from his Twitter, Andi admitted that he had reported to members of Commission III of the DPR RI from the Democratic Party Faction.
He asked his colleague who is a legislator to summon Ali Fikri as Acting Spokesman for the KPK to explain the motive for the announcement, which Andi considered, as untrue news or hoaxes.
"I have reported members of Commission 3 of the Democratic Party of Representatives to summon the spokesman for the KPK and what is the motive for announcing false news indiscriminately," he said.
Regarding Andi Arief's accusations, Acting KPK Spokesperson for Enforcement, Ali Fikri, emphasized that the summons was not a hoax or fake news. He even said that the summons had been sent since March 23 and received the day after, March 24.
"Today it is true that we summoned a witness on behalf of Andi Arief. In our data, it is written as an entrepreneur and the Deputy Secretary-General of the Democratic Party," Ali told reporters in Jakarta, Monday, March 28.
"We have also searched for the summons to the person concerned dated March 23, 2022, and it was received on the 24th. Our address is in Cipulir," he added.
Ali said that if Andi had not received the letter, he could re-confirm. So, later investigators can call back.
Furthermore, the KPK emphasized that there was no other purpose behind Andi Arief's summons. Ali asserted that Andi had indeed been summoned as a witness to shed light on the alleged bribery that ensnared the inactive Regent of Penajam Paser Utara (PPU), Abdul Gafur Mas'ud.
"We also want to convey that of course, the KPK investigators call parties as witnesses because there is a need for an investigation process, which is expected with witness statements, the actions of these suspects will be clearer and clearer," said Ali.
If Andi felt that he had nothing to do with this case, continued Ali, he should have conveyed it cooperatively. This information can be submitted before the investigator.
"Please be cooperative and present, then convey it directly in front of the friends of the investigative team so that it becomes clear what he wants to convey after we call him as a witness, of course," he said.
"In principle, of course, we hope that when summoned by a team from the KPK, cooperatively attend to the call and convey what he knows, feels, he experienced in front of the investigative team, of course," added Ali.
Open the possibility of force calling
After confirming that Andi's summons was not a hoax, the KPK also revealed the possibility of carrying out a forced summons if he was absent again in the next summons.
"If one summons is not present, of course, we will do a re-summon and there are the following legal steps (forced summons, ed) against witnesses who were later summoned but deliberately did not attend," Ali explained.
However, Ali believes Andi Arief is a good citizen. Thus, the Democrat Party politician will cooperate in attending the summons.
"Andi Arief, we believe that the person concerned as a good citizen will cooperate in attending," he said.
For information, the KPK appointed Abdul Gafur with the Acting Secretary of the North Penajam Paser Regency, Mulyadi; Head of Department of Public Works and Spatial Planning of North Penajam Paser Regency Edi Hasmoro; Head of the North Penajam Paser District Education, Youth, and Sports Office, Jusman; and the General Treasurer of the Balikpapan Democratic Party DPC, Nur Afifah Balqis as a bribe recipient.
Meanwhile, as a suspect for giving bribes, the KPK has named a private party named Achmad Zudi. These six people have been named as suspects in alleged bribery in the procurement of goods and services as well as granting permits in North Penajam Paser Regency.
Their determination was initiated from a hand-catching operation (OTT) which was held on Wednesday, January 12 in two locations, namely Jakarta and North Kalimantan. From the results of the action, the KPK also confiscated IDR 1 billion and IDR 447 million in Balqis's account.
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