Chronology of the Determination of Suspect to the Detention of PDI-P Secretary General Hasto Kristiyanto

After being named a suspect at the end of 2024, the Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Hasto Kristiyanto, was detained by the Corruption Eradication Commission on Thursday (21/2/2025). Hasto is alleged to be involved in the case surrounding Harun Masiku, a PDI-P politician who is a fugitive of the KPK. So, what was the process of Hasto's detention, and why did he have to be detained?

The naming of Hasto as a suspect is stated in the Investigation Warrant (Sprindik) number Sprin.Dik/152/DIK.00/01/12/2024 related to obstruction of investigation and number Sprin.Dik/153/DIK.00/01/12/2024 related to a bribery case involving the management of members of the 2019-2024 DPR.

"It is suspected that the action was intended to obstruct and complicate the ongoing investigation into the bribery case," explained KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto during the press release on Hasto's detention, Thursday (20/2/2025).

Both letters are dated December 23, 2024, or just three days after Setyo, along with the four leaders of the KPK for the 2024-2029 period, officially took office. Since then, Hasto has been a target of the KPK. In his status as a suspect, Hasto was also questioned on January 13, 2025, for four hours.

However, Hasto had previously been repeatedly questioned regarding the bribery case involving Wahyu Setiawan of the General Elections Commission by Harun Masiku. One such instance occurred on June 6, 2024, when he appeared as a witness.

Until now, Harun Masiku has been a fugitive from the KPK, and his escape is suspected of involving Hasto. In fact, Hasto was also said to have removed a number of pieces of evidence and was considered to have obstructed the KPK's investigation into the bribery case.

Hasto did not immediately accept the suspect determination. He made a pretrial motion to the South Jakarta District Court. However, Sole Judge Djuyamto at the South Jakarta District Court, Thursday (2/13/2025) read out the verdict stating that the pretrial motion was not accepted.

The rejection dashed Hasto's hopes of escaping the KPK's sights, but he did not give up. Hasto filed a pretrial motion again and that was the reason for not coming to the examination on Monday (2/17/2025).

In the midst of the second pretrial motion, Hasto fulfilled the summons for examination by the KPK, at the KPK Building, Jakarta, Thursday (20/2/2025), at 09.50 WIB. Not only accompanied by a team of legal advisors and a number of PDI-P elites, Hasto's arrival was also greeted by speeches from hundreds of sympathizers who asked the KPK to stop the criminalization efforts of the party leader with the bull logo.

“I am physically and mentally prepared. What if I am arrested? Everything in this republic is built on just laws. That was the initial concept. When that happens, hopefully I won’t (be arrested),” he said.

It turned out that reality did not match expectations. Hasto was still detained by the KPK. Wearing an orange vest and handcuffed, he was escorted to the press conference room at around 18:00 WIB on the same day.

He did not bow his head, but smiled towards the camera while clenching his fist. "Freedom!" he shouted. He only stood under the KPK logo and faced the wall for about 30 seconds to be photographed by the media crew, then was directed back outside.

The facial expressions were different from those of KPK Investigation Director Brigadier General Asep Guntur, KPK Chairman Setyo Budiyanto, and KPK Spokesperson Tessa Mahardhika Sugiarto who looked serious. They then revealed two cases that ensnared Hasto.

Setyo stated that Hasto, along with Harun Masiku and Saiful Bahri, were suspected of giving gifts or promises to members of the General Election Commission for the 2017-2022 period, Wahyu Setiawan. He also said that Hasto was also involved when Harun fled in 2020 and destroyed a number of pieces of evidence.

However, this release focuses on Hasto's efforts in obstructing the investigation. In addition to eliminating evidence, Setyo said Hasto asked a number of witnesses related to the Harun case to provide false statements.

Hasto is suspected of violating Article 21 of the Law on the Eradication of Criminal Acts of Corruption in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph (1) point 1 of the Criminal Code. Hasto was detained for 20 days starting from February 20, 2025 to March 11, 2025. Detention at the State Prison Branch of the Class I State Prison in East Jakarta.

Setyo twice mentioned the act of soaking the cellphone to hinder the investigation. First, during the KPK's sting operation against several parties on January 8, 2020. Second, when Hasto was questioned as a witness in the same case on June 6, 2024.

During the sting operation on January 8, 2020, Hasto reportedly ordered Nur Hasan, the guard of the Aspiration House on Jalan Sutan Syahrir No. 12A which Hasto usually uses as an office, to contact Harun. He asked Harun to soak his cellphone and run away.

"For this act, Harun Masiku could not be caught and has fled until now," said Setyo.

Then, on June 6, 2024, Hasto also ordered his staff, Kusnadi, to sink the cellphone in his possession so that it would not be found by the KPK. This order was made before Hasto was examined as a witness. "So that it is not found by the KPK, where there is substance related to the escape of suspect Harun Masiku whose case is being handled by the KPK," explained Setyo.

It didn't stop there, Hasto was also suspected of ordering a number of witnesses to provide false statements.

Setyo explained that the KPK had summoned 53 witnesses and six experts to uncover the bribery case involving the PDI-P circle. 

Officers also conducted searches at several locations and confiscated documents, electronic evidence, and other items. However, the alleged false statements by several witnesses make Harun Masiku's whereabouts remain a mystery.

"Mr. HK (Hasto Kristiyanto) gathered several people related to the Harun Masiku case, so that when later summoned by the KPK, he did not provide the truthful information. It is suspected that the action was aimed at obstructing and complicating the ongoing investigation process of the bribery case," said Setyo.

Regarding the reason for Hasto's detention, Setyo said that it was a subjective reason from the KPK investigation team. "It was certainly considered so that the suspect would not run away, remove evidence, and of course to facilitate the investigation and examination process including detailing evidence, documents, and others," he said.

On the other hand, Hasto's legal team, Maqdir Ismail stated that the detention of his client by the KPK was invalid because there was no preliminary evidence. The preliminary evidence included that Hasto was involved in bribery with Harun Masiku to Wahyu Setiawan.

"In today's examination, there was no initial evidence shown or confirmed that Mas Hasto had obstructed the investigation," Maqdir said Thursday night.

According to Maqdir, the KPK continues to question Hasto's role, who is considered to have handled the process of Harun Masiku becoming a member of the DPR from the PDI-P Party. In fact, based on Hasto's explanation, he only carried out the party's duties in determining DPR members.

Maqdir also questioned the arrest warrant signed by the KPK leadership. He considered the letter invalid because the KPK leadership was no longer an investigator and also not a public prosecutor, but a state official.

"So, I want to firmly state that this detention order is not in accordance with the provisions of the KPK Law," said Maqdir.

Although considered illegitimate, Hasto has been languishing behind bars awaiting further legal proceedings. However, Harun Masiku, the person he allegedly helped escape, is still wandering who knows where.