Joko Driyono Key to Uncovering Match-Fixing ‘Mafia’

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JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The National Police’s Soccer Mafia Task Force says that it will use Indonesian Soccer Association (PSSI) chair Joko Driyono as the key to uncovering the match-fixing ring in the national soccer scene. In addition to seizing 75 documents linked to match-fixing cases, the police said it had also discovered Rp 160 million (US$11,337.33) in suspected bribes at Joko’s apartment.

National Police spokesperson Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo said that Joko was named as a suspect in evidence tampering related to the match-fixing case. Joko’s interrogation on Monday (2/18/2019) was the start of the police investigation into several incidences of match fixing in Liga 1, the country’s premier soccer league.

“The main focus of the investigation is on [Joko] ordering three other suspects to damage, steal and destroy evidence. Next, we will investigate problems related to the matches between Persibara Banjarnegara and other clubs in Liga 3,” Dedi said on Monday at the National Police headquarters.

He added that investigators had seized last week 75 documents related to problematic matches, player transfers and financial and match records from Joko’s apartment in Kuningan, South Jakarta. Dedi said that the documents were critical to helping investigators uncover match-fixing cases from Liga 1 to Liga 3.

Investigators were also analyzing other documents in Joko’s computer, flash drives, tablet and smart phone, because Joko had ordered three other suspects, MM, D and AG, to conceal seven items of evidence, including a laptop, tablet, flash drives and documents related to match equipment, scheduling and finances.

Dedi said that investigators had also seized around Rp 300 million in cash from Joko’s apartment. A subsequent investigation revealed that Rp 160 million of the money was likely connected linked to crimes related to match fixing.

“It is certainly a possibility and the investigation is ongoing. We are working with the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center [PPATK] to re-audit the seized cash and any other records of Joko’s financial transactions. This includes financial records, his savings book and credit card [bills],” said Dedi.

On Monday, Joko fulfilled a summons from the Soccer Mafia Task Force for questioning at the Jakarta Police’s criminal investigation unit. Joko arrived at the Jakarta Police station at around 10 a.m. accompanied by two individuals.

“We will just go along with the process,” Joko told reporters briefly.

Demands for extraordinary meeting

The police’s naming Joko Driyono as a suspect appears to be the final nail in the coffin for the PSSI. The national soccer organization is now in limbo, with many worrying that it may not be able to function properly. Amid preparations for the 2019 match season, many high-ranking executives of PT Liga Indonesia Baru (LIB), which manages the nation’s premier soccer league, have resigned.

PT LIB president director Berlinton Siahaan announced his resignation on Monday at a shareholders’ meeting. Berlinton said that two LIB commissioners had also resigned with him, identified as chief commissioner Glenn Sugita and Rambun Tjajo.

“I am resigning because I have other things I need to tend to,” said Berlinton.

On the other hand, Liga 1 clubs are demanding that an extraordinary meeting (KLB) be held to appoint new PSSI management. Bandung’s Persib soccer club manager Umuh Muchtar said that nearly 70 percent of the 18 clubs in Liga 1 were mulling the possibility of holding a KLB. The idea had also gained support among the executives of Liga 1 clubs during the PT LIB shareholders meeting.

“All of them want a KLB, but we cannot do so immediately. At the soonest, it will be after the presidential election,” said Umuh.

He explained that KLB could not be held immediately, as the PSSI was preparing the preseason games for the 2019 President’s Cup and the Indonesian Cup was ongoing. (SAN/IGA/ADY)

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PSSI soccer mafia joko driyono match-fixing ‘mafia’