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Lawmakers doubt immigration system error claims in Harun's escape
Lawmakers point to loopholes in government's claims related to Harun's escape
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Suspended General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Wahyu Setiawan (center) is accused of accepting Rp 600 million (US$65,948) in bribes from Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masiku. (JP/Seto Wardhana)
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mid suspicions of layers of coverup in a bribery case implicating Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masiku, lawmakers have questioned a recent investigation finding that claims a system error had caused false information leading to failed attempts to arrest the suspect.
A team tasked with investigating the false information released by immigration authorities said a system glitch had produced the false record that the suspect was in Singapore while he was in the country at that time.
The team—which consists of the National Police, the Communications and Information Ministry and the National Cyber and Encryption Agency—found that the error caused the central server of the immigration management information system (SIMKIM) to not receive more than 120,000 pieces of immigration data from Dec. 23 to Jan. 10.
Democratic Party lawmaker Benny K. Harman, who sits on House of Representatives Commission III overseeing legal affairs, doubts the system error and authorities’ claims of not being able to track Harun.
“In today’s age [digital era], it's hard to believe that Harun has ran away or is in hiding. Someone is hiding him because there is an interest here. After all, Harun is connected to [the General Elections Commission] bribery case,” he said.
He added that the results of the investigation in the immigration office were also not convincing.
"The investigative team has been used to justify [Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly’s alibi [for Harun’s escape]. From the beginning, I had suspected that the team was formed only to justify his alibi,” said Benny.
