In a significant development in Indonesia’s ongoing fight against political corruption, the Jakarta Corruption Court on Friday sentenced Hasto Kristiyanto, Secretary-General of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), to three years and six months in prison. The court found Hasto guilty of bribery in connection with a controversial seat swap in the House of Representatives for the 2019–2024 term.
Presiding Judge Rios Rahmanto, reading the verdict, also ordered Hasto to pay a Rp 250 million (approximately USD 15,200) fine or serve an additional three months in prison if he fails to pay. “The court sentences the defendant Hasto Kristiyanto to three years and six months in prison and a fine of Rp 250 million, substitutable with three months’ imprisonment,” the judge stated.
The panel of judges, which included Sunoto and Sigit Herman Binaji, concluded that Hasto was involved in bribing election officials during the interim replacement process (PAW) for a legislative seat in South Sumatra. However, the court found insufficient evidence to uphold the more serious charge of obstruction of justice tied to the high-profile Harun Masiku case.
A Lighter Sentence Than Demanded
The court’s decision comes as a partial relief to Hasto, as it falls short of the seven-year sentence and Rp 600 million fine sought by prosecutors. Prosecutors alleged that Hasto not only engaged in bribery but also interfered with the ongoing investigation into Harun Masiku, a fugitive politician linked to the same case.
Despite the reduced sentence, the ruling remains a major blow to both Hasto’s political career and the public image of the PDI-P, the country’s ruling party.
A Politically Charged Trial
Throughout the trial, Hasto maintained his innocence and framed the charges as politically motivated. In his defense plea, he accused prosecutors of ignoring key facts and suggested the case was retaliation for his criticism of former President Joko Widodo. “Now, the Harun Masiku case is being used against me,” Hasto said in court earlier this year.
His legal team argued that the prosecution’s case lacked direct evidence linking Hasto to bribery or obstruction. Nonetheless, the court found sufficient grounds to convict him on the bribery charge.
The Harun Masiku Scandal
At the heart of the case is the 2019–2020 bribery scheme aimed at securing a seat in the national legislature. Prosecutors alleged that Hasto, along with lawyer Donny Tri Istiqomah, ex-PDI-P operative Saeful Bahri, and Harun Masiku, orchestrated a Rp 600 million payment to then-election commissioner Wahyu Setiawan. The bribe was allegedly intended to replace fellow PDI-P politician Riezky Aprilia with Harun Masiku in the House of Representatives.
The fallout from the scandal has been far-reaching. Wahyu was arrested and convicted in 2020, while Masiku remains at large—his disappearance a source of mounting frustration for the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the public alike.
Hasto was also accused of ordering aides to destroy evidence in the wake of Wahyu’s arrest. The indictment cited attempts to submerge mobile phones belonging to Masiku and an aide named Kusnadi to prevent their seizure by investigators. However, these allegations of obstruction failed to hold up in court.
A Test of Indonesia’s Anti-Corruption Resolve
Hasto was charged under Indonesia’s sweeping anti-corruption laws, including Article 5 on bribery and Article 21 on obstruction of justice, in conjunction with the national Criminal Code. Although the obstruction charge did not stick, the conviction is seen as a test of Indonesia’s resolve in holding senior political figures accountable.
The case adds to growing concerns about the politicization of law enforcement and the state of corruption in Indonesia’s electoral system. With Masiku still missing and allegations swirling around top party officials, questions remain about how deep the rot goes—and whether further prosecutions will follow.
For now, Hasto Kristiyanto faces prison, and the ruling party must reckon with the fallout from a scandal that has reached the heart of its leadership.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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