A group of academics started on Thursday an online petition calling for his dismissal from the Cabinet, an NGO coalition reported him to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for allegedly obstructing a graft investigation and House of Representatives lawmakers said they would summon him to a hearing – all within 12 hours.

The minister stands accused of covering up the whereabouts of graft suspect and PDI-P member Harun Masiku, who is wanted by the KPK for his alleged role in bribery centering on a dispute between the party and the General Elections Commission (KPU) over a legislative seat left vacant by a deceased party member.

Immigration officials under the Law and Human Rights Ministry initially said that Harun, who is accused of bribing KPU member Wahyu Setiawan to secure the House seat, was in Singapore when KPK officials named him a suspect on Jan. 9. Yasonna himself insisted that Harun was overseas.

However, after evidence surfaced that Harun had returned to Indonesia beforehand, Law and Human Rights Ministry Immigration Director General Ronny F. Sompie confirmed on Wednesday that Harun had been in the country since Jan. 7, claiming that a delay in data processing was the reason for the inconsistency.

Yasonna has so far refused to comment on the revelation, directing reporters' questions to the Immigration Directorate General.

The alleged cover-up prompted a group of academics and activists led by University of Indonesia lecturer Ade Armando to start a petition on Change.org calling for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo to fire Yasonna from his position as minister.

"We as a group of citizens that care about the war against corruption ask President Jokowi to dismiss Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly for lying to the public that graft suspect Harun Masiku had been out of the country since Jan. 6, 2019," the petition said.

The petition said Ronny's explanation for the false claim was "ridiculous".

"[Yasonna] has to take responsibility for this case. He is the person that President Jokowi trusted to safeguard the dignity and enforcement of law in this country," it said. "President Jokowi has to take firm action to preserve the public's trust in the dignity of the government and law enforcement."

The petition had received more than 1,000 signatures by the time of writing.

Meanwhile, on Thursday afternoon, a group of NGOs reported Yasonna to the KPK for alleged obstruction of justice.

The group reported him under Article 21 of the 2001 Corruption Law, which states that a person who deliberately prevents, obstructs or thwarts an investigation, prosecution or examination of a suspect, defendant or witnesses in a corruption case is punishable with up to 12 years' imprisonment and a fine of Rp 600 million (US$43,991).

"The explanations from the Law and Human Rights Ministry do not make any sense. All it had to do was check the CCTVs at the airport," Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Kurnia Ramadhana said after submitting the report.

Kurnia also highlighted the potential conflict of interest arising from Yasonna's position as a senior PDI-P politician.

Last week, Yasonna attended a press conference held by the PDI-P to defend Harun’s endorsement as a legislative member alongside other executives of the ruling party, including PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto and central board chairman Ahmad Basarah.

"We do not understand the urgency for Yasonna to attend [the press conference]," Kurnia said. "Especially because this case involves [a suspect] who left the country, which is under the authority of the Law and Human Rights Ministry."

Kurnia called on the KPK leadership to quickly act on the report and also urged President Jokowi to dismiss Yasonna from the Cabinet.

Lawmakers from the House Commission III overseeing legal affairs were more equivocal when commenting on the matter but said they would summon Yasonna for a hearing next week for clarification.

"Anyone can accuse anyone of anything [...] If I say something wrong, I will be bullied," Commission III chairman and PDI-P politician Herman Herry said. "Only God knows whether there was an element of deliberateness [in the false statements about Harun's whereabouts]. Soon we will have a meeting with [Yasonna] and immigration officials and this will be the main topic of discussion."

The PDI-P legal team, meanwhile, declined to comment on Yasonna's alleged cover-up, saying only that the party had urged Harun to turn himself in.

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