Despite the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) efforts to punish graft suspects, law enforcement officials are still not upholding justice against convicted House of Representatives legislators, parliament watchdogs say.
A coalition of NGOs reported legislators Muhammad Izzul Islam from the United Development Party (PPP) and As’ad Syam from the Democratic Party to the legislative body’s disciplinary council on Wednesday, demanding their dismissal as legislators due to their being convicted by the Supreme Court in criminal cases.
“As far as we know, the two legislators are still listed as active legislators at the House,” Sebastian Salang from Indonesian Parliamentary Watch (Formappi) told the council’s secretariat.
In November 2008, the Supreme Court upheld a lower courts’ ruling that handed Izzul an eight-month suspended sentence for forging a diploma. He qualified for the 2009 elections as the election law does not ban former convicts from running for legislative posts.
The Sengeti District Court in Jambi found As’ad guilty of corruption in the Bahar River power plant project and sentenced him to four years in prison on Dec. 10, 2008. The Supreme Court upheld the verdict in January last year, but As’ad has not served any time and instead qualified for the elections in April 2009.
Izzul is a member of the House’s Commission II on domestic affairs, while As’ad is a member of the House’s Commission VIII overseeing religious affairs.
The coalition also reported Dimyati Natakusuma, also from the PPP, who is standing trial for his alleged involvement in a graft case during his tenure as Pandeglang regent.
“How can people already convicted by the courts sit at the honorable House?” Yulianto from the National Consortium for Legal Reform (KRHN) said. “Ethically speaking, they no longer deserve the legislative posts.”
Izzul told The Jakarta Post that following a Constitutional Court ruling, his case was no longer a matter of debate.
“The [Supreme Court] is no longer relevant according to the Constitutional Court ruling,” he said.
He was referring to the Constitutional Court ruling issued in March 2009, which stipulates that former convicts can contest legislative elections at least five years after they serve their sentence.
Democratic Party chairman at the House, Anas Urbaningrum, was not available for comment on As’ad case. Former Democratic Party secretary-general and House Speaker Marzuki Alie said last year that the party’s central executive board would take action against As’ad.
Graft cases investigated by the KPK have resulted in some political parties quickly distancing themselves from suspects by dismiss active legislators who were found guilty by the Corruption Court. Convicted legislators include Nur Amin Nasution of the PPP, Yusuf Emir Faisal of the National Awakening Party (PKB), Abdul Hadi Djamal of the National Mandate Party (PAN) and Azzidin of the Democratic Party.
Parliament watchdogs also reported alleged violations of the House’s code of ethics by House speaker Marzuki and Golkar Party legislators Markus Nari, Chaeruman Harahap and Nudirman Munir.
The NGOs said Marzuki unilaterally delayed a key House plenary session on the Bank Century case.
