SP/Robert Isidorus, Jayapura, Papua – Nine out of 45 members of the new West Papua legislative council are corruption convicts but nonetheless were inaugurated last week.

The convicts in question have been sentenced to jail terms of two to four years for various graft cases, but have filed appeals at the Supreme Court.

A local activist, Yan Christian Warinussy, said the inauguration of the lawmakers in question is an embarrassment and should be investigated.

Yan, who is the executive director of the Institute for Research, Analysis and Development of Legal Aid (LP3BH) in Manokwari, said that previously, five lawmakers with a similar record were prevented from joining the council.

"I urge the Corruption Eradication Commission [KPK] and the Papua Attorney General's Office to immediately start an investigation into whether this is a case of money politics," Yan said.

The convicted lawmakers are Erick S. Rantung and M. Sanusi Rahaningmas from the National Awakening Party (PKB), Origenes Nauw and Max Adolof Hehanusa from the Golkar Party, Aminadab Asmuruf from the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), Abdul Hakim Achmad from the People's Conscience Party (Hanura), and Robert Melianus Nauw, Emanuel Yenu and Harianto from the Democratic Party.

Source: http://thejakartaglobe.beritasatu.com/news/9-graft-convicts-west-papua-legislative-council/