Executive Board of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has prepared a legal strategy in defense of party’s Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto, a suspect in a bribery case over the 2019 legislative election result that was meant to pave the way for party cadre Harun Masiku’s entry for House of Representative (DPR) membership.
“Until now we are focusing on the preparation of our legal measures,” Ronny Talapessy, Deputy PDI-P Chairman for Legal Affairs, said on Thursday, December 26, 2024.
However, Ronny did not specify the measures that will be taken, including the potential of filing a pre-trial lawsuit against the case.
Hasto was named a suspect in the wake of the issuance of an investigation warrant (Sprindik) by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday, December 23, 2024.
Based on the Sprindik, Hasto is said to be involved in an alleged corruption case alongside Harun Masiku, another suspect, by giving gratification or a promise to Wahyu Setiawan, who was a Commissioner at the General Elections Commission (KPU) for the period of 2017-2022, in return to Masiku’s appointment as a DPR member for the 2019-2024 term.
In addition, Hasto has also been designated as a suspect in alleged obstruction of Wahyu Setiawan’s investigation.
“While the investigation of the case and the hunt of Harun Masiku, who had fled, were underway, investigators found evidence of the involvement of Hasto and Donny Tri Istiqomah as Hasto’s confidant,” Setyo Budiyanto, Chairman of KPK, told a press conference on Tuesday, December 24, 2024.
Harun Masiku was a legislative candidate for PDI-P and has been a fugitive for five years. He is suspected of being involved in the bribing of Wahyu Setiawan, so that he could be appointed as a replacement for the elected legislator Nazarudin Kiemas, who had passed away before the inauguration day.
In the case, Wahyu was found guilty and has been serving a prison sentence since then. Meanwhile, Harun, suspected of preparing Rp850 million (US$52,567) bribe money has not fulfilled KPK’s summons until he was put on the police’s wanted list (DPO).
