House’s ethics committee dismisses PDI-P’s Panda Nababan

Panda Nababan: (Tribunnews/Herudin)

The House of Representative’s ethics committee has permanently dismissed convicted Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker, Panda Nababan.

“He was dismissed before the House recess,” deputy ethics committee head, Siswono Yudhohusodo, said on Friday as quoted by kompas.com.

The House entered its recess period on July 16, and the break will last until Aug. 15.

PDI-P secretary-general, Tjahjo Kumolo, said on Friday that Panda had long ago submitted a letter of resignation as a House member after the committee suspended him for his alleged involvement in the graft case surrounding the election of Miranda S. Goeltom as Bank Indonesia’s (BI) senior deputy governor in 2004 .

“Pak Panda had submitted his resignation letter long before the committee’s decision,” Tjahjo said.

However, Panda was still a member of the PDI-P, although he no longer held any position on the party’s central board, Tjahjo said.

The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Panda to 17 months’ imprisonment and ordered him to pay a Rp 50 million (US$5,450) fine after finding him guilty of accepting Rp 500 million to back Miranda’s candidacy in the BI case.

The Jakarta High Court upheld the lower court’s verdict last year.

The scandal has implicated 30 politicians, including 15 from the PDI-P, 11 from the Golkar Party, three from the United Development Party (PPP), and one from the Indonesian Military (TNI)/National Police faction at the House.

The lawmakers involved reportedly accepted 480 traveler’s checks worth Rp 240 billion to back Miranda.

Panda was recently released from Cipinang Penitentiary in East Jakarta after serving his sentence. Before being imprisoned, Panda sat on the House’s Commission III overseeing legal affairs. (fzm/iwa)