Otto Hasibuan: Advocates Born to Hinder Investigations

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Chairman of the Indonesian Advocates Association (Peradi) Otto Hasibuan said that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) needs to coordinate its actions with Peradi on the alleged violation of Article 21 of the PTPK Law against Fredrich Yunadi.

Otto Hasibuan said that there is a very fine line that differs between what is deemed as a hindrance to an investigation and carrying out a job as an advocate.

“That is because advocates are by nature born to hinder investigations, which is to prevent authorities from acting irresponsibly,” he said at Peradi office on Thursday, January 18.

Read: Agung Laksono Refuses to be Fredrichs Defense Witness

Otto said that Peradi actually wants to assist KPK to understand whether Fredrich’s actions can actually be considered as an obstruction of justice or just plainly being an advocate. He regrets that there were no attempts from KPK to communicate with them (Peradi) prior to Fredrich’s arrest.

He said that Peradi has yet to shed light upon Fredrich’s case. “To be honest, we still have no idea. Advocates would most certainly block away authorities,” said Otto Hasibuan.

Previously, member of Peradi supervising commission Kaspudin Noor came to the KPK building and proposed for a discussion to be held on Fredrich’s ethical code violation. However, KPK said that they need time to study the letter sent by Peradi on Wednesday, January 17.

KPK named Fredrich Yunadi as a suspect in the obstruction of justice against KPK’s investigation towards e-KTP suspect Setya Novanto. KPK suspects that Fredrich conspired with a doctor to tamper with Setya Novanto’s medical records at the Permata Hijau hospital case.

Riani Sanusi Putri