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KPK, House lambast court decision on convicts standing for election
A recent decision by the Constitutional Court to allow former convicts to run in elections has met with disappointment from legislators and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)
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recent decision by the Constitutional Court to allow former convicts to run in elections has met with disappointment from legislators and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Gerindra Party lawmaker Ahmad Riza Patria said on Saturday that the decision would not deter inmates from committing corruption crimes.
'We are disappointed with the decision because the previous law was made to prevent corruption cases from reoccurring,' he said as quoted by kompas.com.
Many corruption cases have implicated regional heads accused of buying their election victories.
The court decided on Friday to abolish a law that prevented former convicts from running in an election, arguing that the law was unconstitutional as long as the convicts were honest with the public. With the decision, former convicts are allowed to run in elections without serving a five-year probation period, as required by the previous law.
Acting KPK commissioner Johan Budi also shared his disappointment, saying that the decision would hamper efforts to eradicate corruption.
Johan argued that the deterrent effect would, following the decision, no longer be effective. (ika)(++++)
