House works on Nasir’s prison visit

Power abuse: Legislator Muhammad Nasir of the Democratic Party smiles as he attends a meeting with the House of Representatives’ ethics council in Jakarta on Wednesday. The council has indicated that Nasir abused his position in relation to a visit to Cipinang Penitentiary. JP/Jerry AdigunaJakarta: The House of Representatives’ ethics council is determining whether there are any ethical breaches in legislator M. Nasir’s recent controversial visit to Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta.

Council chairman M. Prakosa said on Wednesday that the ethics council would make a decision on whether to punish the lawmaker.

“We are analyzing all the information we received from all sources. We will make a decision next week,” Prakosa said.

M. Nasir, a member of House Commission III overseeing legal affairs, made an unannounced prison visit to his brother M. Nazaruddin late at night on Feb. 8. The visit raised suspicion about possible political intervention in the prosecution of Nazaruddin, a former Democratic Party treasurer, who has been implicated in a bribery case connected to the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games athlete’s village in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Prakosa refused to disclose details on the evidence the council had gathered and whether it indicated alleged abuse of power.

“However, Nasir had clearly used his position as a lawmaker to access the cell late at night more than once. We wouldn’t have a session with Nasir if there were no alleged ethical violations”.