Ina Parlina, Jakarta – Despite the fair treatment she receives at the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK) detention block, Democratic Party lawmaker Angelina Sondakh feels she is facing discrimination.
On Tuesday, the former beauty queen requested an electronic Koran with an electronic pen, the same two items she demanded last week. Her lawyer, Teuku Nasrullah, argued that the electronic Koran and pen "would help her recite Koranic verses because she doesn't know how to read it [Arabic]".
Angelina is being detained for her alleged role in fraudulent budget deliberations at the House of Representatives (DPR). On Tuesday, the KPK extended her detention for another 20 days.
The KPK provides Angelina with an ustadz (teacher) every Wednesday to help her recite Koranic verses. However, Nasrullah insisted that Angelina "wants to recite the Koran every night, which is why she has requested the electronic tools".
"She told KPK investigators that she has lost everything – position and [social] status. She begged to not lose Allah, Nasrullah said after visiting Angelina on Tuesday.
Earlier this month, Angelina requested a canvas board and painting tools, as well as a guitar. She made the request after being in detention for only two days. The KPK has yet to grant the request
She also requested surgery for an old wound on her shoulder. Nasrullah said that she wanted "to be fit when she faces trial".
A KPK doctor checked her condition right away and recommended that Angelina be treated at the Metropolitan Medical Center (MMC) last week. However, Angelina suddenly declined the treatment.
Nasrullah said that Angelina wanted to be treated by her doctor at Muhammad Husni Thamrin Hospital as she did not want to start her treatment again from scratch.
Only days after her arrest, Angelina was hospitalized for sinusitis after repeatedly complaining about her condition through Nasrullah. She was checked by the KPK's doctor and later recommended treatment at Proklamasi Otolaryngology (Perhati) Hospital.
Angelina's lawyer insisted on Tuesday that her client had never requested special treatment from the KPK, only fair and decent treatment, just like other detainees.
"She felt she was being discriminated against. There are people [in jail] who are treated much more humanely," Nasrullah said. "She is not even allowed to exercise."
The 34-year-old mother of three questioned her detention on Tuesday. "Angelina told me that she wanted to give [further] testimony right away, yet the investigators have only questioned her twice in the past 20 days," Nasrullah said. "Is her detention really necessary?"
Nasrullah said that the KPK imposed strict visiting hours for Angelina's parents and her children, who were only allowed to visit her on Monday and Thursday. She asked that the KPK allow her son to visit her every day "for just 30 minutes".
KPK spokesman Johan Budi dismissed Angelina's claims, saying that the KPK "has never barred her from meeting her family during official visiting hours".
Johan also said that visitors could meet Angelina on Saturday and Sunday if they got approval from the KPK. Moreover, he added that the KPK cared about Angelina's health, pointing out that the KPK's doctor gave recommendations to her several times, saying "how can we not pay attention to her here?"
Johan said that the investigators were confident that her detention was needed for their investigation into her role. He added that the KPK was still a long way from completing the case.
"The effectiveness of our investigation is not determined by how many times we have examined the suspects," Johan said. "Our investigation into her role in the case is not over as we are still questioning witnesses. We will question her further again soon."