TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Business tycoon and politician Hary Tanoesoedibjo denied the allegation suggesting that he threatened Attorney General’s Office (AGO) junior attorney for special crimes Yulianto. Hary Tanoe defended that his text message was sent to call on the junior attorney to prove who was right and otherwise.

Hary Tanoe wrote in his text message, “Mr. Yulianto, let’s prove who’s right and who’s wrong; and who’s the thug and who’s the professional. You must remember that having power won’t last forever. One of the reasons for me to enter politics is to eradicate arbitrary law enforcers, those involved in transactional politics, and those who abuse their power. I will definitely be a leader of this country.”

Hary argues that the second sentence in his text message is not a threat.

“When I wrote that I intended to eradicate abusive law enforcers, it’s just in general. I wasn’t addressing anyone specific,” Hary Tanoe explained.

The heated situation between Yulianto and Hary Tanoe started when an alleged graft case surrounding the Mobile-8 tax restitution emerged. Mobile-8 is a company that was once under MNC Group’s control. Yulianto is the prosecutor handling the case.

Hary, who is also the Chairman of the United Indonesia (Perindo) Party, views that he is innocent and refuses to be linked to the case.

Hary Tanoe argues that the case involving Mobile-8 was not a criminal case.

AHMAD FAIZ