It’s Time to Arrest Harun Masiku
Monday, February 24, 2025
The KPK must arrest Harun Masiku after detaining PDI-P Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto. This could lead to the solving of other major cases.
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IT took 1,871 days after Harun Masiku fled for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to detain Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto. In that long time, the political regime changed. The anti-corruption agency should respond to accusations regarding the politicization of law through a comprehensive investigation into the cases involving Hasto and Harun.
Harun went on the run after investigators arrested General Election Commission member Wahyu Setiawan on January 8, 2020. He was suspected of bribing Wahyu so he could become a member of the House of Representatives from the South Sumatra I electoral district, replacing the recently deceased Nazarudin Kiemas. When this case first came to light, Tempo wrote about the alleged involvement of Hasto in Harun’s flight. Among other things, Hasto is alleged to have hidden his colleague in an area of South Jakarta connected to the Indonesian National Police.
The 2019-2024 KPK under the leadership of Firli Bahuri—who was subsequently replaced by Nawawi Pomolango—failed to find Harun. Hasto remained untouched until the end of 2024, after Joko Widodo was replaced by Prabowo Subianto. And it was only after the leadership of the KPK passed to Setyo Budiyanto, that on Thursday, February 20, 2025, investigators decided to arrest Hasto.
Hasto is accused of involvement in the bribe paid to Wahyu Setiawan and is suspected of obstructing the investigation. The KPK told the press that Hasto ordered a colleague to call Harun shortly after the arrest of Wahyu Setiawan. Harun was asked to immerse his mobile phone in water, then flee. Before being questioned as a witness on June 6, 2024, Hasto also ordered his staff to submerge their cell phones in water. He also asked other witnesses to not reveal all of the facts
The detention of Hasto is clearly not the end of the investigation into the bribing of Wahyu. The arrest of Harun Masiku must be a priority so the investigation can be completed, especially as the length of time that has passed since Hasto was named a suspect has led to charges of politicization of the law. Immediately after Hasto was detained, the PDI-P leader ordered party members who were regional heads not to attend the meeting at the Magelang Military Academy, organized by President Prabowo Subianto.
The accusations of a political attack against the PDI-P, the only political force in the House of Representatives outside the government coalition, can only be refuted by the KPK if it carries out a serious investigation. The arrest of Harun after that of Hasto will give investigators an opportunity to also look into other cases behind the bribery of Wahyu Setiawan. Indications of other cases were apparent from the search carried out at the home of the United Development Party (PPP) politician Dan Faridz at the beginning of January this year.
There are reports that Djan gave part of the bribe money for Wahyu Setiawan to Harun Masiku. Djan, Hasto, and an attorney were linked in an effort to hamper an investigation into embezzlement of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Assistance (BLBI). If Harun was also involved in the BLBI corruption, this is an opportunity for the KPK to reopen the case. It halted its investigation and revoked the status of a suspect on tycoon Sjamsul Nursalim in 2021.
The Corruption Eradication Commission must uncover the connections that are still a mystery because of Harun Masiku going on the run. Therefore, the commission must immediately arrest him.
