DPR: Reveal Harun’s Location

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis greets lawmakers on Thursday (30/1/2020), ahead of a working meeting with House of Representatives Commission III at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta. The meeting discussed the 2020 work plan and several major issues, including Harun Masiku case, the unsolved case of the acid attack on Novel Baswedan, the war on drugs and illegal fishing in Natuna.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Several members of House of Representatives (DPR) Commission III have called for full disclosure of Harun Masiku’s current whereabouts and his alleged ties to the bribery case. A failure to find Harun immediately will damage the image of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

An investigation should also be opened into those involved in hiding Harun Masiku, the member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) suspected of bribing former General Elections Commission (KPU) commissioner Wahyu Setiawan.

The KPK on 9 Jan. named Harun as a suspect in a bribery case concerning the replacement of a lawmaker. His whereabouts have remained unknown to date. The KPK on Thursday (30/1/2020) posted Harun on the wanted list on its website.

During Thursday’s hearing between House Commission III and National Police chief Gen. Idham Azis at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta, several lawmakers also asked for information on Harun’s whereabouts and called on the related agencies to locate him immediately.

What is clear is that I did not know Harun was at the PTIK.

Commission III member Benny K. Harman of the Democratic Party faction questioned the accuracy of the information that Harun was recently spotted at the Police Staff College (PTIK). "According to the investigation, Harun was allegedly seen visiting the PTIK [on 8 Jan.], because the PTIK head knows Harun well," he said.

Meanwhile, Commission III member Sarifuddin Sudding of the National Mandate Party faction asked for an explanation regarding the interrogation of the KPK investigation team when it attempted to arrest Harun at the PTIK. He voiced his suspicions that some individuals were trying to obstruct the KPK’s efforts to arrest him.

Read more : Prioritize the Search for Harun Masiku

Acting KPK spokesman Ali Fikri, speaking at KPK headquarters, confirmed that Harun was spotted on 8 Jan. near the PTIK complex in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta. Ali said that the KPK investigation team acted on the tip and headed to the college (kompas.com, 30/1).

However, the National Police chief said during the House Commission III hearing that he was unaware that Harun was spotted at the PTIK on 8 Jan. He also said that officers at the PTIK had not detained any KPK investigators. "I do not want to assume, but is there any connection between Harun and the PTIK governor [head]? What is clear is that I did not know Harun was at the PTIK," said Idham.

KOMPAS/HERU SRI KUMORO

An activist holds a black-and-white photograph on 23 Jan. 2020 at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta. A group of anticorruption activists reported Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly to the KPK for allegedly obstructing the investigation into a bribery case that has implicated Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Harun Masuki, accusing Yasonna of issuing a false statement that Harun was overseas.

Related parties

Former KPK leader, Busyro Muqoddas, said that the issue was not just about detaining Harun and solving the case, but also a test of the KPK’s resolve to take legal action against those who were allegedly protecting Harun.

Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI) chair Asfinawati urged the KPK to investigate those who had claimed in the past that Harun remained abroad. It was also possible that an individual deliberately provided false information as to Harun’s whereabouts to aid in his escape.

Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly said at legislative complex that he did not appreciate those who had accused him of deliberately protecting Harun. "I do not believe that I am that stupid, and I don\'t want to commit political suicide," he said.

Meanwhile, Ali said that the KPK had requested information from Ahmad Rifai, inspector general III at the Law and Human Rights Ministry, but did not mention whether the request was related to the KPK’s investigation.

Indonesian Corruption Watch researcher Kurnia Ramadhana pointed out that the protracted case surrounding Harun had harmed the KPK\'s image. (SAN/IAN/IGA/DVD/SHR)