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Blame game begins in PDI-P over KPU graft case
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Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri (‘second left’) and the party's secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto (‘right’) walk alongside each other. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
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n the wake of a bribery case involving some of its members, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) seems to be trying to distance itself from its secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto, while declining to help search for the case’s main suspect: PDI-P politician Harun Masiku.
Ahmad Basarah, one of the party's central executive board heads, said on Monday that Hasto was the one who knew why the PDI-P wanted Harun to have a seat in the House of Representatives.
Basarah added that the decision was based on the party's "subjectivity" and that it was a "secret" that should not be disclosed to the public.
"The person who is concerned in this context is the party’s secretary-general. I am the head of the party's foreign affairs board," Basarah said.
The Corruption Eradication Comission (KPK) accused Harun of giving Rp 900 million (US$65,568) to General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Wahyu Setiawan with the intention of influencing the KPU’s decision about a replacement for deceased PDI-P politician and House legislator-elect Nazarudin Kiemas. Harun wanted to take the seat from candidate Riezky Aprilia, who secured the second-highest number of votes in the April 17 election, behind Nazarudin.
Harun, a legislative candidate from South Sumatra, allegedly funneled the bribe through a businessman named Saeful, who gave it to Wahyu’s trusted aide, Agustiani Tio Fridelina. Both Saeful and Agustiani were former PDI-P legislative candidates.
Harun and Saeful are said to be aides to Hasto, as well as Donny (also known as Doni), a lawyer who was arrested by the KPK along with Saeful. Hasto has denied that the three men were his close aides.
