Ono Surono's Legal Representative Highlights Irregularities in KPK's Bandung Raid

The legal representative of West Java DPRD Deputy Chairman Ono Surono, Sahali, has spoken out in response to the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) statement regarding the controversy over the disconnection of CCTV access during the raid on Ono’s home in Bandung on Wednesday (1/4). Sahali, who also serves as Head of the People’s Legal Aid and Advocacy Agency (BBHAR) of the PDI Perjuangan West Java, assessed the explanation from KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo as unreasonable and full of irregularities. He emphasised that the facts on the ground showed that it was the KPK investigators who requested the surveillance cameras be turned off. “The question is, what interest does the family have in turning off the CCTV? On the contrary, it’s better for the CCTV to remain on in such a situation so that everything is transparent,” Sahali said on Thursday (2/4). According to Sahali, after the surveillance cameras were deactivated at the investigators’ request, the situation at the raid site became unconducive. He revealed suspicions of intimidation against Ono Surono’s wife. In fact, there was physical tension between the legal team and the officers on the scene. “The investigators then allegedly intimidated Ono Surono’s wife. In fact, there was pushing and shoving with the legal advisors who tried to protect her,” he stated. Another irregularity highlighted concerns the seizure of a sum of money. Sahali explained that the investigators insisted on seizing Rp50 million belonging to the family and Rp200 million in deposited funds from arisan participants. However, his side had already presented authentic evidence in the form of WhatsApp group conversations proving that the money belonged collectively to the arisan participants, not to Ono Surono personally. Observing the series of events, Sahali believes the raid was not purely conducted for professional law enforcement. He suspects there is another agenda behind the repressive actions. “This raid, to us, is merely an attempt at framing by certain investigators against Kang Ono Surono. They are forcing themselves to seize items that have absolutely no connection to the main case,” he clarified.