Markus Junianto Sihaloho – For the sake of the Prosperous Justice Party's public image, the party should replace disgraced lawmaker Misbakhun in the Indonesian House of Representatives after his punishment was doubled by a Jakarta Court, a lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party said Monday.
Ruhut Sitompul, who is also a member of House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, said political parties should replace lawmakers who are convicted of criminal activity. "If they keep him here, it's the party that will suffer the bigger loss," Ruhut said.
Ruhut was responding to an announcement by the Jakarta High Court that Misbakhun's sentence for falsifying documents was increased to two years. The lawmaker was accused of acting on behalf of a private company he controlled, Selalang Prima Internasional, which was trying to obtain a loan from Bank Century worth $22.5 million.
Bank Century later collapsed in 2008 and was rescued by the government. It is currently known as Bank Mutiara.
Ruhut said his party has never tried to intervene in a court's verdict. "If he [Misbakhun] decided to appeal the verdict, he should go ahead and let's pray he won't get an even heavier sentence".
PKS deputy secretary general Machfudz Siddiq said the party would not act against Misbakhun's political standing until he exhausts all appeals.
He said Misbakhun will appeal the verdict to the Supreme Court. "So he's still a lawmaker from PKS because his legal process is not yet over," Machfudz said.
Three lawmakers are currently facing possible possible dismissal over legal troubles, Muhammad Izzul Islam from the United Development Party (PPP), As'ad Syam, from the Democratic Party and Misbakhun.
Lawmakers Panda Nababan and Dudhie Makmun Murod from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) were recently named suspects in the bribery case related to the appointment of Miranda Gultom as a senior deputy governor of the Central Bank in 2004 but they have not yet been convicted. PDI-P leader Taufik Kiemas said his party would dismiss any lawmakers convicted of criminal charges, including Panda and Dudhie.
"If they were proven guilty and the court punishes them, then PDI-P will dismiss them [from the House]," Taufik said.
Earlier, former PKS chairman and current communication and information minister, Tifatul Sembiring, had said his party would not protect any member who violated the law.
"No one is immune before the law," Tifatul said last March when asked about Misbakhun's troubles. "The PKS will never protect those who violate the law."