Indonesia probes ex-leader Megawati’s aide for graft, Detik says

INDONESIA’S anti-graft agency has identified a close aide of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri as a suspect in a bribery case, local news website Detik reported.

The agency, known as KPK, named 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 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 Megawati’s Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, or PDI-P, expelled former Indonesian president Joko Widodo for backing Prabowo Subianto’s successful presidential bid. PDI-P has not joined Prabowo’s coalition government after months of discussion.

Hasto didn’t respond to a request for comment but PDI-P has described the case as politically motivated. Tessa Mahardika Sugiarto, a KPK spokesperson, 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 Chico Hakim, a PDI-P spokesperson.

The case also underscores a strained relationship between Megawati and Prabowo. Megawati publicly criticised Prabowo’s flagship free lunch programme by questioning its feasibility. Her daughter and parliamentary speaker, Puan Maharani, had opposed a planned value-added tax increase, urging for a review. BLOOMBERG