REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The State Intelligence Agency (BIN) responded the issue of illegal wiretapping by releasing an official statement. It stated that the defendant of religious blasphemy case Basuki Tjahaja Purnama (Ahok) and his legal advisors did not mention whether the communication between Chairman of Indonesian Council of Ulama (MUI) KH Ma'ruf Amin and Chairman of Democrat Party Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) was in the form of direct verbal communication or telephone conversations obtained through wiretapping.

"The information which was submitted during the trial process was the responsibility of Basuki Tjahaja Purnama and his lawyers," said the Deputy VI of BIN in a press release received by Republika.co.id on Thursday.

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BIN reminded that Ahok had made a clarification that the information used as evidence in the trial was the news of online media liputan6.com published on October 7, 2016. The Deputy VI added that, under the Law No. 17 of 2011 on State Intelligence, BIN is a major element in national security system to maintain the unity of the country. In performing their duties, roles, and functions, BIN was given authority by the legislation to conduct wiretappings, by upholding the values ​​of democracy and human rights.

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However, the wire tapping was only conducted for the sake of the organizing function of intelligence, in order to maintain the safety, integrity, and sovereignty of the country. The results were not to be published or to be granted to certain parties. "Through this official clarification, due to the information about the communication between the chairman of MUI with SBY, as conveyed by attorney of Mr. Basuki Tjahaja Purnama in the hearing on January 31, 2017, BIN confirmed that the information did not come from BIN," he asserted.