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Cover-up allegations in bribery case put PDI-P in tight spot
The admission came amid allegations the PDI-P, the largest party in the ruling coalition, is tampering with the investigation into the case, which reportedly implicates the party’s secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto.
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The logo of Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) is displayed during the opening ceremony of the fifth PDI-P congress in Sanur, Bali, in August 2019. (JP/Zul Trio Anggono )
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high-profile corruption case involving members of the ruling party took a peculiar turn on Wednesday after the government retracted its statement regarding the whereabouts of a key suspect in the case, fueling cover-up allegations.
The Immigration Office had previously claimed that Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masiku, the key suspect in the graft scandal, left for Singapore on Jan. 6 — two days before a raid by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) that led to a full-blown investigation of the case — and had yet to return to the country.
A report by Tempo magazine refuted this claim, however, saying that it had evidence, including CCTV footage, indicating that Harun had returned on Jan. 7 and was in Indonesia when the KPK investigators scrambled to track down and arrest the suspects, including Harun.
After days of denial, the director general of immigration, Ronny F. Sompie, on Wednesday finally confirmed the Tempo report, saying that there was a “delay in the processing of traffic data at Terminal F” of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport when Harun entered.
“The information about HM’s return to Indonesia on Jan. 7 has been followed up by the issuance of a travel ban on the order of the KPK leadership,” he said.
The admission came amid allegations the PDI-P, the largest party in the ruling coalition, is tampering with the investigation into the case, which reportedly implicates the party’s secretary-general, Hasto Kristiyanto.
Antigraft activists had already cast doubt on the claim made by the immigration authorities, since the institution is under the auspices of the Law and Human Rights Ministry, currently led by senior PDI-P politician Yasonna Laoly.
