TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) senior investigator Novel Baswedan has been reported to police yesterday night by Nico Panji Tirtayasa, a former witness in a bribery case implicating former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar.
Nico’s lawyer said that there are at least four criminal offenses committed by Novel Baswedan against his client, namely forcing him to give statements under a false oath, alleged misuse of authority, allegedly denying freedom to others and allegedly forcing his client to give false statement to the media.
According to the lawyer, her client felt intimidated by the KPK to commit things which he did not understand and against his will to prosecute his uncle Muchtar Effendi. Muchtar Effendi was an accomplice of Akil Mochtar, who has been sentenced to five years in jail in the bribery case.
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Nico said that he did not intend to defame the KPK but merely wanted to tell the truth. He expects other witnesses to follow suit.
Prior to filing a police report, Nico had attended a hearing with the KPK inquiry right committee at the House of Representatives. At the meeting, Nico claimed that he was told by the KPK investigators to commit perjury in the bribery case against former Constitutional Court chief justice Akil Mochtar, his accomplice Muchtar Effendi, Palembang Mayor Romi Herton and Empat Lawang Regent Budi Antoni Aljufri. "I was told to admit to knowing all activities of my uncle, Muchtar Effendi, and admit that I was my uncle’s bodyguard, private assistant and driver," he said.
During the trial process, Niko said he was taken hostage by the KPK investigators in a house in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta. He was told to cooperate and follow all the KPK instructions. "They threatened to jail my child and wife for receiving [money] from Muchtar Effendi," he said.
Niko also said that he was given special treatment by the KPK investigators to get massage at Aston Hotel on Jalan Rasuna Said, before giving testimony at the trial. At the hotel, he was asked by the public prosecutors to give testimony according to the KPK investigators’ instruction.
As of press time, Novel Baswedan and KPK have yet to respond to a request for comment.
FRISKI RIANA
