Karina M. Tehusijarana, Jakarta – The Gerindra Party has denied that the police have named its chairman and presidential candidate, Prabowo Subianto, as a suspect in a treason case.
An image of an alleged letter from the Jakarta Police naming Prabowo a suspect made the rounds on messaging apps early Tuesday morning, but Gerindra spokesperson Andre Rosiade denied its veracity.
"It's not true that an SPDP [Notice of Commencement of Investigation] has been issued for Pak [Mr.] Prabowo," Andre told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday. "What's true is that an SPDP was issued for [Prabowo supporter] Eggi Sudjana, and that Pak Prabowo was also reported [in connection with] the case."
Eggi Sudjana, a lawyer and a National Mandate Party (PAN) politician, was arrested last week and charged with treason and spreading fake news in connection with organizing a public protest against the General Elections Commission (KPU) and the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) on the presidential election results.
"There is not even one jot of evidence that can link Pak Prabowo to treason, because he has always acted within the bounds of the law and the Constitution," said Andre, who had also tweeted the same on his Twitter account.
Pernyataan Terkait Isu SPDP Pak Prabowo:
1) tidak benar telah terbit SPDP thd Pak Prabowo terkait kasus makar. Yang ada adalah SPDP thd Pak Eggy Sudjana. – Andre Rosiade (@andre_rosiade) May 21, 2019
Andre added that Prabowo was not even listed as a witness in Eggi's case, and had never received a police summons regarding the case.
Police have yet to comment on the SPDP, with National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Dedi Prasetyo saying only that he did not have any information on the matter.