Temperature rising: Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) acting secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto tells reporters on Thursday that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Abraham Samad once lobbied party executives to support Abrahamâs bid to become the running mate of then presidential candidate Joko âJokowiâ Widodo in last yearâs election
span class="caption">Temperature rising: Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) acting secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto tells reporters on Thursday that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chief Abraham Samad once lobbied party executives to support Abraham's bid to become the running mate of then presidential candidate Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo in last year's election. Hasto wore the hat and mask to imitate Abraham's attire when the latter met with several PDI-P politicians to negotiate for the bid. (JP/DON)
In a move perceived by many as a cavalier counterattack against the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) has accused the antigraft body's chairman, Abraham Samad, of abusing his power in retaliation for the failure of his bid to become vice president.
The KPK has strongly denied the allegations and threatened to sue the party for slander. However, it also vowed to examine the claims in order to publicize the truth.
The commission recently named National Police chief hopeful Comr. Gen. Budi Gunawan a graft suspect, a move the PDI-P insists was motivated by Abraham's resentment of the police general, who was allegedly instrumental in thwarting Abraham's ambition to be the running mate of Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo in last year's presidential election.
Jokowi instead picked Jusuf Kalla, the pair that went on to victory.
PDI-P deputy secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto said on Thursday that he had urged the KPK to set up an ethics committee to probe allegations that Abraham had had several meetings with PDI-P politicians to talk about the possibility of him being paired with Jokowi.
'I, Hasto Kristiyanto, Pak Hendropriyono and other witnesses, some of whom serve as ministers in the current Cabinet, are ready to provide testimony as witnesses,' he said during a press conference , referring to Gen. (ret) Hendropriyono, the former chief of the State Intelligence Agency (BIN), who was involved in Jokowi's campaign team as an advisor.
'The initiative [for the meetings] was pushed by one of Abraham's campaign team members. Two of them, D1 and D2, actively lobbied us,' he said, identifying the two confidants by their initials only.
In the first meeting, Hasto alleged, Abraham said that he had a good relationship with the PDI-P, pointing out that he had greased the wheels of justice for a number of PDI-P members convicted of graft, resulting in more lenient sentences.
'Therefore, we designed a scenario where Pak Abraham could meet with Pak Jokowi at [Adisucipto] Airport's Blue Sky lounge,' Hasto said.
The meeting at the airport in Yogyakarta, which occured in early May 2014, was claimed by Abraham to be a coincidence.
The night before Jokowi declared Kalla his running mate, Hasto said he met Abraham to give him the bad news, which the latter claimed he already knew.
'I know [that I was not chosen] because I have tapped [some cell phones]. I know the one who caused my failure is Pak Budi Gunawan,' Hasto said, imitating Abraham's response.
He declined, however, to state categorically that the KPK's move against Budi was Abraham's way of taking revenge.
Separately, the KPK's deputy chairman for prevention, Johan S. Budi, said that Abraham had labeled the allegation as 'slander'.
' [But] if there is firm evidence against Abraham Samad, we will take all necessary measures,' he insisted.
Cabinet Secretary Andi Widjajanto said it was unlikely that Jokowi's campaign team had met Abraham, citing his experience as a former member of a team that helped Jokowi during the election campaign.
Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo also voiced doubts over Hasto's claim, saying that, as PDI-P secretary-general at that time, he had not heard of any meetings with Abraham.
'To my knowledge, such meetings would not have been possible because Abraham could not act alone without [being monitored] by KPK officials,' Andi said on Thursday .
Meanwhile, Poltracking Institute executive director Hanta Yuda said that Hasto's allegations appeared politically motivated.
'It might be a political strategy. A case like this can be divided into two components: the legal aspect, which emphasizes facts and evidence; and the political aspect, where facts and evidence are less important than constructing a certain public perception,' Hanta said on Thursday.
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