New Facts in Febrie Case: Hotman Becomes Lawyer for Ex-Jampidsus

The alleged corruption and money laundering (TPPU) case involving former Jampidsus of the Attorney General’s Office, Febrie Adriansyah, has entered a new chapter. After his case was transferred to the Attorney General’s Office from the National Police’s Corruption Eradication Corps (Kortas Tipikor), Febrie’s status as a suspect was briefly said to be merely that of a witness, although the Attorney General’s Office later clarified the report. The Attorney General’s Office corrected its statement regarding the status of the former Junior Attorney General for Special Crimes in a newly issued Investigation Order (Sprindik). Having been previously mentioned as still being a witness, Febrie was confirmed to remain a suspect. Head of the Attorney General’s Office Legal Information Centre, Anang Supriatna, explained that this was based on the suspect determination previously made by Kortas Tipikor investigators. ‘In the new Sprindik, the consideration also takes into account the sprindik from the police investigators, in which the police investigators had already named the two individuals as suspects,’ he told reporters on Wednesday (15/7). At the same time, the Attorney General’s Office also issued three new Investigation Orders related to the alleged corruption and money laundering case involving Febrie. Anang stated that the issuance of the three new Sprindiks was carried out to follow up on the transfer of the case from the Police. Most recently, Anang said Febrie had been named a suspect in the corruption and money laundering case of PT Asabri. According to him, this suspect determination was in accordance with the Kortas Tipikor Police Sprindik file. Meanwhile, for the alleged corruption cases at Krakatau Steel and the procurement of coal for power plants, his status remains that of a witness and he has not yet been named a suspect. ‘Based on the Kortas Police investigator’s sprindik, for one case, namely related to TPPU and Asabri,’ he told reporters on Friday (17/7). The Attorney General’s Office is confident that Febrie will not damage or destroy evidence related to the corruption and money laundering case. This was conveyed by Anang in response to public concerns as Febrie has still not been detained despite being a suspect. ‘No (he will not destroy evidence), we are confident,’ Anang told reporters, as quoted on Thursday (16/7). He is also confident that Febrie will be cooperative and comply with investigators’ summons for examination. He mentioned that Febrie is also recorded as still being in Indonesia and has been prevented from travelling abroad by Immigration. The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) stated it is ready to assist law enforcement officials in tracing the flow of funds in Febrie’s case. PPATK Head Ivan Yustiavandana said his institution is open to collaborating with all law enforcement officials to support the investigation process, including through financial transaction tracing. Prominent advocate Hotman Paris Hutapea has confirmed he has been appointed as Febrie’s lawyer. He conveyed this when visiting the Attorney General’s Office Round Building on Friday (17/7) morning. ‘It is official (appointed), the power of attorney (was submitted) this morning,’ he told reporters.