Members of the Anti-Corruption Civil Community stage a rally in front of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday (14/9), demanding that the KPK immediately detain House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, a suspect in the e-ID card project corruption case.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The House of Representatives’ ethics council (MKD) is looking into a possible ethics violation by House Speaker Setya Novanto regarding his letter demanding the postponement of an investigation into him as a suspect in the electronic ID card graft case pending the pretrial ruling. The MKD has asked the House Secretariat for the letter.
“If Novanto sent the letter as a citizen, not as a House Speaker, it is OK. That is the right of every citizen, but we will verify it, we will look into the implications,” MKD chairman Sufmi Dasco Ahmad of the Gerindra Party said in Jakarta on Friday (15/9).
Novanto sent the letter, dated Sept. 7, to the House leaders and asked them to forward it to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) leaders. House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon forwarded the letter to the KPK leaders on Sept. 12.
Gerindra Party faction chairman Ahmad Muzani said he had asked Fadli about the letter. Based on Fadli’s explanation, the move was acceptable.
Dasco said Fadli would probably not be sanctioned by the MKD if he only forwarded the letter, because that was part of the job of the House leaders. However, if Fadli also wrote in the letter, demanding the KPK halt the investigation into Novanto’s case, he could be punished by the MKD for attempting to interfere in Novanto’s legal process at the KPK.
Legal process
Golkar Party Consultative Council chairman Akbar Tandjung said Novanto’s move to send the letter amounted to a form of intervention in the legal process. Even though Novanto, who is also Golkar’s chairman, positions himself as a citizen, his status as House speaker is attached to him.
“Of course, as a citizen he has the right. However, at the same time, he is a House speaker. Of course, that cannot be separated. Any moves that contain conflict of interest should be avoided,” Akbar said.
National Mandate Party faction secretary Yandri Susanto also questioned the reasons behind Novanto’s letter. “It is not proper for Novanto to involve the House. His legal case has nothing to do with the House. Thus, the institution must not be dragged into the case,” he said.
Golkar Party expert council chairman Agung Laksono said Novanto had no intention of dragging the House into his personal case. The letter that Novanto sent to the House was just information to the other House leaders.
Investigation
Until yesterday, Novanto was still being treated at a hospital in the Semanggi area of South Jakarta.
Novanto’s lawyer Firman Wijaya said he did not know about the progress of his client’s health. He added that he had not talked to Novanto regarding the pretrial to be held next week.
Meanwhile, regarding Novanto’s questioning as a suspect by the KPK next week, Firman said, “I cannot comment yet.”
KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said he hoped Novanto could appear for questioning next week. The questioning was rescheduled after Novanto last Monday failed to show up for questioning due to sickness. “We hope he has recovered and can attend the questioning,” Febri said.
Regarding the KPK’s plan to get a second opinion on Novanto’s health, the KPK said it would await the questioning next week. “We respect the letter informing us of his sickness. We have to trust it. However, we will look into the second questioning. We will possibly work with doctors,” said KPK deputy chairwoman Basaria Pandjaitan.
