Hasto's Lawyer Debates with KPK Legal Team, Judge: No Need to Shout!

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The pretrial hearing on the suspect status of the Secretary General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, Hasto Kristiyanto, was marked by debates and verbal altercations between Hasto's side and the legal team of the Corruption Eradication Commission or KPK. The reason being, KPK as the respondent brought forth evidence of amendments that were previously not recorded in the event's agenda.

The debate began after sole judge Djuyamto opened the pretrial hearing at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday (11/2/2025). The judge initially requested the KPK legal team to present the original evidence related to Hasto's pretrial request, even though today's hearing agenda was the testimony of witnesses or experts.

However, the KPK instead proposed an overall improvement of the evidence. Djuyamto views the improvement by the KPK as different from the agreement between the respondent and the petitioner (Hasto's party) in the hearing on Monday (February 10, 2025).

"We do not want to change what happened yesterday. What happened in yesterday's trial is what we recorded. If now the respondent submits 'oh, here is the original', please go ahead and show it," said Djuyamto.

In the midst of the conversation, Hasto's attorney, Ronny Talapessy, stepped forward to follow the conversation between the judge and the KPK legal team. Ronny wanted to see the documents submitted by the KPK to the judge.

A few moments later, another of Hasto's legal representatives stepped forward. There, a debate arose. Hasto's legal counsel and the KPK legal team engaged in a heated argument regarding the evidence presented to the judge. Occasionally, both parties exchanged words in a high tone.

We do not want to change what happened yesterday. What happened in yesterday's trial is what we recorded. If now the respondent submits 'oh, here is the original', please go ahead and show it.

"Wait a minute, please, slow down the debate, Sir. Just debate in a relaxed language, no need to shout. This is live, what you stand for here is visible. Please, I remind you of the debate, we will hear even a soft voice, no need to shout," said Djuyamto, mediating between the two parties.

Ronny then finally filed an objection on behalf of his party as the petitioner. According to him, today's hearing was not scheduled for the correction of evidence. The politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) also rejected the correction of the list of evidence submitted by the KPK.

In addition, he criticized the disorganized administrative process carried out by the KPK legal team. Ronny considered this to have harmed his side.

After that, Djuyamto asked for the objections of the applicant, Hasto's attorney, to be stated in the conclusion. Likewise with the objections of the respondent, the KPK legal team. The pretrial hearing with the conclusion agenda will take place tomorrow, Wednesday (12/2/2025).

In today's pretrial hearing agenda, the KPK legal team presented four expert witnesses. Two of them were already present at the trial location, namely criminal law experts from Riau University, Erdianto and from Brawijaya University, Priya Jatmika.

Hasto Kristiyanto's pretrial hearing against the KPK has been ongoing since Wednesday (2/5/2025). The process was carried out to determine the validity of the suspect determination of Hasto Kristiyanto in the bribery case of the management of DPR members 2019-2024 and obstruction of investigation of similar cases.

Hasto's legal counsel views the KPK as arbitrary when it named Hasto as a suspect. This is because Hasto's name was not mentioned at all in the legal considerations of the court's decision which has become final and binding. This shows that Hasto was not involved.

On the other hand, the KPK stated that Hasto was involved because he led a silent operation carried out by Saeful Bahri and Donny Tri Istiqomah to bribe former KPU Commissioner Wahyu Setiawan. The bribe money was used to smooth Harun Masiku's path to sit in the DPR seat.

Hasto was also accused of donating Rp 400 million in bribe money. The PDI-P Secretary General is also suspected of asking his subordinates to drown their cellphones to cover their tracks.