Erika Anindita, Jakarta – Government watchdog Civil Society Group for State Officials Observation (LMPPN) filed on Monday a report with the House ethics council (MKD) against former House of Representatives speaker Setya Novanto for an alleged ethics breach.
The group reported Setya to the council in regard to a letter reportedly issued by the Golkar Party politician that the LMPPN claimed indicated a conflict of interest concerning his position as a state official.
The letter, dated Oct. 17, 2015, circulated among the public in October last year. In it, Setya purportedly instructed state-owned oil and gas company Pertamina to make a fuel storage payment for a fuel terminal in Merak in Cilegon, Banten, to facility operator PT Orbit Terminal Merak (OTM), which was reportedly one of Setya's business associates. OTM served as Pertamina's fuel storage partner company.
Setya was House speaker at the time. The LMPPN has accused the lawmaker of using his position as House speaker for personal gain in the matter.
LMPPN spokesperson M. Junaidi said it was expected that the House ethics council would investigate the case and question relevant parties instead of merely accepting Setya's denial.
"We hope this can act as an example to encourage other House members to be accountable and transparent. As House members, they should not prioritize their personal interests above their duties," Junaidi told thejakartapost.com on Monday evening.
Separately, House ethics council deputy chief Sufmi Dasco Ahmad confirmed that it had received the group's report, saying that it had been submitted at 10:58 a.m. on Monday.
Sufmi said, however, that the council would continue to focus on executive-related matters as the House was still warming up after a long recess and Ade Komarudin had only just been inaugurated as the new House speaker, replacing Setya who stepped down in December over an alleged ethics violation related to gold and copper miner PT Freeport Indonesia's mining contract extension renegotiation.
Sufmi said the MKD would process the LMPPN's report along with a pile of other reports it had received. (ebf)(+)
Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2016/01/12/report-filed-against-setya-novanto.html