Spokesperson Prabowo Admits He Received Threats After Clarification Of Corruption Allegations Of Purchase Of Fighter Jets From Qatar

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto's spokesman, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak (second from the right) at a press conference at the Media Center TKN Prabowo-Gibran, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 13. (Nailin-VOI)

Spokesperson for the Minister of Defense (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak admitted that he received threats from unknown people after clarifying news related to allegations of corruption in the purchase of 12 Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets from Qatar.

This was conveyed by the Deputy Chairperson of the Prabowo-Gibran National Campaign Team (TKN), Habiburokhman. He revealed that Dahnil received threats via his cell phone last night.

Previously, Habiburokhman also mentioned that the news was slander and hoax. The alleged corruption dragged the name of the Minister of Agriculture and Presidential Candidate number 2, Prabowo Subianto.

"The threat to Bung Dahnil was sent to his cellphone last night. The point is asking Pak Dahnil not to speak to the mass media regarding his slander or hoaxes regarding the purchase of Mirage planes," Habiburokhman said at a press conference at the TKN Prabowo-Gibran Media Center, Jakarta, Tuesday, February 13.

Habiburokhman revealed that his party was collecting evidence of threats and would report them to law enforcement officials.

"On the screenshot the threat is yes. But for the time being, our number is hidden because we will take legal proceedings, most likely tomorrow afternoon after voting (reported)," he said.

Some time ago, Dahnil firmly dismissed the news that revealed an agreement between Indonesia and Qatar for the purchase of 12 used Mirage fighter jets worth US$792 million or the equivalent of around Rp. 12.4 trillion.

Dahnil emphasized that the news was slander and hoaxes because the procurement of fighter jets was postponed. The postponement was agreed by the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Finance due to fiscal limitations.

The former chairman of the Muhammadiyah Youth PP said the threats he received were a bit disturbing. Because his party is in the middle of efforts to fight hoaxes and slander against the Minister of Defense as well as a presidential candidate from the Advanced Indonesia Coalition (KIM), Prabowo Subianto.

"In the midst of our efforts to fight hoaxes and slander, there are threats. This is also in line with the increasingly massive slander against Pak Prabowo regarding the 2000-5 Mirage, in fact there are no items. No purchases. There are also transactions and so on, but then the slander is getting more massive," said Dahnil.