Markus Junianto Sihaloho – A number of former lawmakers, including those convicted of graft and serving out their sentences, are apparently still receiving their salaries, a member of the House of Representatives said on Wednesday.

Former Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq resigned from the House in February 2013 to "focus on his legal case" but is still receiving his salary, according to House Ethics Council member Siswono Yudohusodo.

"Mr. Luthfi has already resigned as House member and, if not mistaken, his faction has already replaced him, but there has not been any transfer of power yet," Siswono said.

Siswono said regulations state that a former legislator will continue to receive a salary until a decree on this replacement is issued. "We are still waiting as it is still in process," he said.

Luthfi is now charged with demanding kickbacks from a local company to help it win a lucrative government contract to import beef. Since then, the antigraft body known as the KPK has identified billions of rupiah worth of assets collected by Luthfi and an aide, Ahmad Fathanah, and highlighted the possible laundering of the bribes through the PKS coffers.

Two former female legislators, Angelina Sondakh and Wa Ode Nurhayati, are also still receiving their salaries as lawmakers because they have not yet been officially discharged from the legislative body, Siswono said.

Lawmakers receive a basic salary of about Rp 4.2 million a month but can receive as much as Rp 60 million a month when allowances are included.

Angelina was sentenced in January to 4.5 years in jail for corruption linked to the construction of the athletes' village for the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang, while Wa Ode was in October served with a six-year jail sentence for accepting bribes in relations to budget allocations. Both female legislators are currently in detention.

"Angie [Angelina] is under a temporary suspension status and therefore she still gets her principal salary. Wa Ode was is also under temporary suspension," Siswono said. He repeated that as long as a decree to discharge them has not been issued, the lawmakers were still eligible to receive their salary.

The National Mandate Party (PAN) faction at the House of Representatives has not yet settled Wa Ode's replacement, the faction's deputy chairman Viva Yoga Mauladi said.

Viva said the letter had already been sent to the House leadership, but there was no response yet. "It may be that the letter is already with the leadership of the House because it has actually already been processed by the PAN executive board," he said.