Setya Novanto Commits Evil Conspiracy: Setara Institute

 Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Chairman of the Setara Institute  Hendardi accused Parliamwent Speaker Setya Novanto of peddling influence of his power for personal interest.

The testimonies given by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said and PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Ma'roef Syamsudin at the Parliament Honorary Tribunal clearly showed a conspiracy leading to graft conspiracy, Hendardi said here on  Friday.

Hendardi urged the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) not to take too long time in starting investigations of  the case  and see who else are involved.

Setya Novanto, who is a cadre of Golkar Party, has been reported by Sudirman Said to the MKD  accusing the House Speaker of illegally asking for a share in PT Freeport Indonesia.

Sudirman brought with him a transcript of Novanto's conversation with Ma'roef  and his business friend, saying that Novanto used the names of President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to convince the Freeport leader.

Novanto allagedly asked for the Freeport share in exchange of his support to win approval for the renewal of the U.S. company's contract.

Freeport Indonesia, an Indonesian unit of the U.S mining giant Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold is seeking extension of its contract which will expire in 2021.

Hendardi said MKD should protect itself from various interventions that it could get to the root of the conspiracy  and bring the truth to the open.

"Golkar party, in which Novanto is seeking protection would be abandoned by the people if it continues to make it difficult for MKD (to carry out its job)," he said.

The public also are watching and remember other leaders of the Parliament seeking to protect Novanto, he said.

He said he hoped  the attorney general office, which looks too eager to take care of the case, would be consistent in its step  and would not act on certain illicit motivation.

"Hopefully the attorney general would not take the opportunity to gain popularity only," he said expressing doubt of the seriousness of the attorney general to prosecute Novanto.

He cited a number of other big cases such as cases of gross violation of human rights, which the attorney general office has failed to handle.  

Hendardi said history showed that all attorney generals since the big financial scandal of Bank Indonesia Liquidity Aid (BLBI), the prosecution office has become an institution that played a big role as 'bunker' for Setya Novanto.

Novanto has been reported to be allegedly involved in BLBI case and  the attorney general office has always failed to settle the  cases seriously and transparently. (WDY)