Indonesia probing former president Megawati’s aide for graft: News outlet
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Indonesia’s anti-graft agency has identified a close aide of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri as a suspect in a bribery case.
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JAKARTA – Indonesia’s anti-graft agency has identified a close aide of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri as a suspect in a bribery case, Indonesian news website Detik reported.
The agency, known as KPK, named Mr Hasto Kristiyanto, who is also the secretary-general of Indonesia’s main opposition party, in a notice of investigation, Detik reported, citing sources. The investigation was opened after allegations surfaced that Mr Hasto was involved in the bribery of a former election commission official, Detik and other local media reported.
News of the investigation emerged weeks after Ms Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, expelled former Indonesian president Joko Widodo for backing Mr Prabowo Subianto’s successful presidential bid. PDI-P has not joined Mr Prabowo’s coalition government after months of discussion.
Mr Hasto didn’t respond to a request for comment, but PDI-P has described the case as politically motivated. Ms Tessa Mahardika Sugiarto, a KPK spokeswoman, said the agency will issue a statement.
“This kind of pressure, including threats of imprisonment against our party member, only strengthens our resolve to protect democracy,” said Mr Chico Hakim, a PDI-P spokesman.
The case also underscores a strained relationship between Ms Megawati and Mr Prabowo. Ms Megawati publicly criticised Mr Prabowo’s flagship free lunch programme by questioning its feasibility. Her daughter and parliamentary speaker, Ms Puan Maharani, had opposed a planned value-added tax increase, urging a review. BLOOMBERG
