Noel Ebenezer Warns PDIP: The Bull Is Being Hunted by 'Stray Dogs'

Noel Ebenezer, the defendant in the alleged extortion and gratification case and former Deputy Minister of Manpower, has warned the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) that its cadres are being hunted by ‘stray dogs’. The ‘stray dogs’ refer to law enforcement apparatus (APH).

‘I also want to convey to my PDIP comrades that PDIP cadres are now being hunted by “stray dogs”,’ Noel said after attending his trial at the Corruption Court (Tipikor) at the Central Jakarta District Court on Monday (6/4).

‘The bull is being hunted by “stray dogs”,’ he added.

Noel, who is being prosecuted by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), described these ‘stray dogs’ as law enforcement officials who often lie.

‘Comrades, just draw your own conclusions: which law enforcement officials like to lie? Well, they are the ones I liken to “stray dogs”,’ said the former Deputy Minister of Manpower.

‘Convey to Bu Mega (PDIP General Chair) and Mas Hasto (PDIP Secretary General) that the “stray dogs” are hunting the bull,’ he emphasised.

Noel explained that this ‘hunt’ is laden with a major political agenda. He stated that PDIP is being targeted because it is the only party with an extraordinary grassroots base.

‘And we see that besides PDIP, PKB is also being hunted by these “stray dogs”,’ he concluded.

PDIP responds

PDIP politician Guntur Romli expressed thanks to Noel for the warning about the alleged threat. He said PDIP has also felt something similar.

‘We want to thank Bung Noel for his warning. We also feel that since PDI Perjuangan has firmly positioned itself as a political force outside the Government and as a balancing force, there have indeed been many such warnings,’ said Guntur Romli.

In fact, he continued, PDIP is merely carrying out democratic mechanisms that include balance or checks and balances.

‘The risk of politicisation and criminalisation through legal cases, as mentioned by Bang Noel, is indeed felt. The case afflicting our Secretary General, Mr Hasto Kristiyanto, we are convinced is due to that modus operandi because of his firm stance in criticising the abuse of power by Jokowi and dismissing Jokowi,’ said Guntur Romli.

Noel’s indictment

Noel, along with ten other defendants, is accused of committing the crime of extortion related to the processing of K3 certifications amounting to Rp6.5 billion.

‘Forcing a person, namely forcing applicants for K3 certification or licences, including Fanny Fania Octapiani, Fransisca Xaveriana, Grhadini Lukitasari Tasya, Intan Fitria Permatasari, Muhammad Deny, Nicken Ayu Wulandari, Nur Aisyah Astuti, Octavia Voni Andari, Shalsabila Salu, Sri Enggarwati, and other K3 certification or licence applicants, to give something, to pay, or to accept payment with deductions, or to do something for himself, namely giving money in a total amount of Rp6,522,360,000.00,’ said KPK Prosecutor Asril at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday (19/1).

Noel is said to have enriched himself by Rp70,000,000.00.

Meanwhile, Fahrurozi by Rp270,955,000.00; Heru Sutanto Rp652,236,000.00; Subhan Rp326,118,000.00; Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra Rp652,236,000.00; Irvian Bobby Mahendro Rp978,354,000.00; Sekarsari Kartika Putri Rp652,236,000.00; Anitasari Kusumawati Rp326,118,000.00; Supriadi Rp294,063,000.00.

Then Haiyani Rumondang, as Director General of Binwasnaker & K3 for the period from 2020 to April 2024, Rp381,281,000.00; Sunardi Manampiar Sinagar, as Secretary of the Directorate General of Binwasnaker & K3 for the period from 2021 to September 2024, Rp288,173,000.00; Chairul Fadhly Harahap, as Secretary of the Directorate General of Binwasnaker & K3 from September 2024 to 2025, Rp37,945,000.00.

Furthermore, Ida Rochmawati, as Coordinator of the Occupational Safety and Health Management System (SMK3) Field, Rp652,236,000.00; Nila Pratiwi Ichsan, as Subcoordinator of the Occupational Safety and Health Institution Quality Assurance Field, Rp326,118,000.00; Fitriana Bani Gunaharti, as Subcoordinator of the Occupational Safety and Health Institution Quality Standards Compilation Field, Rp326,118,000.00.

‘Unlawfully or by abusing their authority, namely the defendant Immanuel Ebenezer Gerungan together with Fahrurozi, Hery Sutanto, Subhan, Gerry Aditya Herwanto Putra, Irvian Bobby Mahendro, Sekarsari Kartika Putri, Anitasari Kusumawati, and Supriadi, Miki Mahfud, and Temurila, have acted unlawfully or abused their authority related to the Issuance and Renewal of Occupational Safety and Health (K3) Individual Certification or Licences for the certification or licence applicants,’ the prosecutor revealed.

In addition, Noel is also accused of receiving gratification amounting to Rp3,365,000,000.00 and one unit of a blue navy Ducati Scrambler motorcycle. The money and motorcycle were given by civil servants from the Ministry of Manpower and private parties.

The KPK has developed this alleged extortion case in the processing of K3 certifications by naming three new suspects. They are suspected of receiving money flows.

The three suspects are Secretary of the Directorate General (Sesditjen) of Training, Supervision, Manpower & Occupational Safety and Health (Binwasnaker & K3) Chairul Fadly Harahap, former Director General of Binwasnaker & K3 Haiyani Rumondang, and former Head of the Ministry of Manpower’s Public Relations Bureau Sunardi Manampiar Sinaga.