President, Vice President to Report Speaker of The House to Police

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - A member of the Parliament Honorary Tribunal (MKD), Akbar Faisal, said he had information that both President Joko Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla would report House Speaker Setya Novanto to police.

"I heard the President and Vice President would report Setya Novanto to police on charge of illegally using their names for personal gain," Akbar Faisal said.

"I just heard that information, and I fully supports the move," he said in a short text message here on Tuesday without naming his source.

On Monday Novanto denied all charges against hims before the MDK in a closed door session.

Earlier, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Sudirman Said reported Novanto to the MDK with transcript accusing him of asking for a share in PT Freeport Indonesia in exchange of support for its bid to secure approval for contract extension.

The U.S. company, which has large copper and gold mines in Papua, is seeking extension of its contract which will expire in 2021.

The transcript of conversation between Novanto and his business friend Riza Chalid and Freeport President Director Maroef Sjamsuddin said that the House Speaker used the name of the president and vice president to convince Freeport that the contract would be extended.

The MKD already summoned Sudirman Said and Maroef for questioning in an open session broadcast live by television.

Jokowi was said to have been furious about the session questioning Novanto being closed to the media and the attempts of Novantos supporters in MKD to play down the seriousness of the charge against him .

"It does not matter that I am called crazy, insane or hard headed, but when it concerns the institutional authority, misusing the name of President for a 11 percent share (in Freeport), that, I could not accept. This is a matter of propriety and morality," he said yesterday.

Earlier Jusuf Kalla said Novanto has been involved in criminal conspiracy. (WDY)