Aide to Graft-Charged Ex-House Speaker Testifies in Obstruction of Justice Probe
Jakarta. Antigraft investigators have questioned an aide to former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto in an ongoing probe into alleged attempts to hamper a graft investigation into the disgraced lawmaker, an antigraft spokesman said on Friday (19/01).
Setya's aide, police officer Reza Pahlevi, was among dozens of other witnesses who have testified in recent weeks in the case.
The case has implicated Setya's former lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi, who is accused of having helped Setya dodge the graft investigation.
Setya, who is now standing trial, was nowhere to be found when investigators attempted to arrest him at his home in Jakarta last year.
Having been declared a graft fugitive, Setya was eventually detained after he was involved in a car crash and rushed to the hospital. His aide, Reza, was inside the car.
Investigators have obtained a chronology of the incidents from Reza, said Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Febri Diansyah.
"We will crosscheck his testimony with other witnesses ... We want to draw up a more complete chronology for evidencing," Febri told reporters at his office in Jakarta.
The investigation has found that Setya's former lawyer, Fredrich, allegedly made a phone call to the hospital, Medika Permata Hijau, to book a VIP room before the car crash took place.
Fredrich also allegedly colluded with Bimanesh Sutarjo, a doctor at the hospital who has also been named a suspect, to manipulate Setya's medical records.
The two, who have been placed in KPK custody, could face up to 12 years in jail if found guilty in the obstruction of justice case.
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