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Jakarta Post

Media mogul declared intimidation suspect

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, June 23, 2017

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Media mogul declared intimidation suspect Suspected: MNC Group owner Hary Tanoesoedibjo (center) speaks to journalists after attending a questioning at the Cybercrime Directorate at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department in Jakarta on June 12. (Antara/Rivan Awal Lingga)

T

he National Police officially named businessman-cum-politician Hary Tanoesoedibjo a suspect on Friday for allegedly intimidating an Attorney General’s Office (AGO) official last year.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Rikwanto said in Jakarta on Friday that the police had notified prosecutors about Hary’s status through a letter dated June 15. “The police leadership has allowed its investigators to commence a criminal investigation with Hary as a suspect.”

The announcement ended days of uncertainty about Hary’s status after he underwent a series of police questionings. He was reported to the police for allegedly threatening the head of the AGO sub-directorate for special crimes, Yulianto, who handled an investigation into the businessman’s reportedly suspicious Rp 10.75 billion (US$ 807,360) tax restitution claim in 2009.

Earlier this week, the police clarified Attorney General Prasetyo’s statement to the media that Hary, the founder of the Indonesia Unity Party (Perindo) and media chain MNC Group, had been named a suspect. Subsequently, Hary’s lawyers reported Prasetyo to police for making what they claimed was a false statement.  

Yulianto filed a criminal complaint against Hary for allegedly texting him a threatening message in connection with the AGO’s ongoing probe into the dubious tax restitution involving Hary’s company, PT Mobile-8 Telecom.

The SMS said, “Mas Yulianto, we will prove who is right; who is a professional and who is a thug. Please remember that power doesn’t last forever. I entered politics with the intention of eliminating law enforcers who are undemocratic, corrupt and abuse their power. Mark my words, I will surely become a leader of this country and when I do, Indonesia will be cleansed.”

Rikwanto added that the police were scheduled to question Hary early next month, after the Idul Fitri holiday.

The police have charged Hary under the 2016 Electronic Information and Transactions Law, which carries a maximum prison term of four years. (kuk)

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