TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Police questioned musician Ahmad Dhani on Thursday over alleged treason plot embroiling suspect Sri Bintang Pamungkas. Ahmad Dhani was grilled for three hours at Jakarta Metro Criminal Investigation Unit.
Ahmad Dhani said that investigators asked 12 questions. “The questions centered around the meeting at UBK [Bung Karno University] and Sri Bintang’s speech in Kalijodo,” he said.
Ahmad Dhani said that he was not present in a meeting in Kalijodo wherein Sri Bintang gave his speech. “Moreover, I only visited the UBK twice: on November 20 and 30 upon Firza [Husein’s] invitation,” he said.
Ahmad Dhani claimed that he arrived at the UBK when Sri Bintang gave his speech, adding that he did not know what the topic was.
Ahmad Dhani’s defense lawyer Alamsyah Hanafiah considers that his client’s testimony was meaningless because of the 12 questions asked by investigators over Sri Bintang, his client had no knowledge of 90 percent of them.
Moreover, investigators also questioned Ahmad over Sri Bintang’s speech. The first was on reinstatement of the original text of the 1945 Constitution. The second was on the overthrow of the government. The third was on the demand for the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) to hold a Special Session (Sidang Istimewa).
Alamsyah said that his client has no knowledge about them. “Ahmad Dhani could not make any conclusion about them. What Ahmad Dhani knew was that Sri Bintang demanded Ahok [inactive Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama] to be detained for blasphemy,” he said.
Dhani was earlier summoned for questioning as a witness for other treason suspects.
Police have named eight suspects over alleged treason: Sri Bintang Pamungkas, Firza Husein, Rachmawati Soekarnopurtri, Ratna Sarumpaet, Adityawarman, Kivlan Zein, Alvin dan Eko Sudjana. They were arrested ahead of peaceful anti-Ahok rally held in Monas on December 2, 2016.
INGE KLARA SAFITRI