TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

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)

The Jakarta Post
Sat, July 11, 2015 Published on Jul. 11, 2015 Published on 2015-07-11T18:59:31+07:00

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

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).

Gerindra Party lawmaker Ahmad Riza Patria said on Saturday that the decision would not deter inmates from committing corruption crimes.

'€œWe 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)(++++)

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.