KPK Should Complete Setnov's Dossiers Soon: Observer

Jember, E Java (Antara Bali) -  Director of Anti-Corruption Study Center of Gadjah Mada University, Zainal Arifin Mochtar, said the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should immediately complete the dossiers of corruption suspect Setya Novanto (Setnov).

"The important effort that must be done by the KPK is to complete the files first," Zainal said on the sidelines of National Constitutional Law Conference in Jember, East Java, on Sunday.

This, according to Zainal, is not a matter of concerns by some parties that Novanto will once again file a pretrial case after the KPK again named him a suspect.

"If he wants to file another pretrial, it is another matter, he can do it if he wants. After all, different judges would have  different opinions," said Zainal.

Zainal further said that if the KPK immediately completes Novanto's dossiers, then the case can also be immediately submitted to the court to deal with the principal case.

"If the prosecutor has reached the P21 stage, it means that the case has entered the principal case so that pretrail is disqualified," said Zainal.

According to him, with the completeness of the case file, the KPK will make its position strong, so the debate related to pre-trial becomes another matter.

"The important thing is the file is complete, not about avoiding the pretrial because the pretrial is the right of the suspect as decided by the Constitutional Court," said Zainal.

Setnov, who is the House Speaker, was again named suspect in the electronic identity card corruption case on Friday, after the court annulled the first instance of his being termed corruption suspect.

"The KPK (anti-graft agency) has issued an order of investigation into SN (Setya Novanto), as member of DPR (House of Representatives) since October 31, 2017," KPK deputy chief Saut Situmorang said at a press conference.

Saut stated the KPK had studied the pretrial court's decision on September 19, 2017, which revoked Novanto's status as corruption suspect, and other related laws.

In view of that, the KPK started a new investigation on October 5, 2017, to develop the E-KTP (electronic identity card) case and inquired with a number of parties, as well as collected the relevant evidence.

"In the process of investigation, the KPK summoned  SN twice on October 13 and 18, but he never appeared for interrogation citing official engagements. After enough evidence was collected during the the process of investigation, the KPK leadership, along with its investigators and prosecutors, exposed the case at the end of October 2017," he explained.

It was found that Setnov, as DPR member in the period from 2009-2014, along with Anang Sugiana Sudihardjono, Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong, Irman, director general of civil registry and population affairs of the Ministry of Home Affairs, and Sugiharto, official-in-charge of making commitment of the directorate general of civil registry and population affairs, as well as several other accomplices, abused his power and facilities to cause at least Rp2.3 trillion financial loss to the state or the country's economy from the Rp5.9 trillion E-KTP procurement project of the Ministry of Home Affairs in the 2011-2012 period.

Setnov has been charged with violating articles in Law Number 31 of 1999 on Corruption and Criminal Act.

The KPK sent the notification of the commencement of investigation to SN to his residence in Kebayoran Baru, South Jakarta.

"The KPK hopes all parties will support the anti-corruption efforts in the country to ensure a better Indonesia for the future generations," Saut remarked. (WDY)