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Political parties involved in e-KTP graft case may get permits revoked: Expert
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Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo (bottom left) speaks with Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly (bottom right) during a plenary meeting at the House of Representatives on June 2. (Antara/Yudhi Mahatma)
S
everal political parties may be facing serious trouble if it is proven that some of their elite members were involved in a case of alleged embezzlement involving the multi-million-dollar procurement of electronic identity cards (e-KTP).
Constitutional Law expert Margarito Kamis said on Friday that the political parties could be in danger if the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) got information that any politicians were acting on party orders.
He said that among the legal implications was the possibility the Constitutional Court (MK) would revoke their permits.
“I haven’t yet seen such evidence, but if information suggesting the politicians acted under their parties’ instructions is found, the President can file a request with the MK to ban the parties,” Margarito told The Jakarta Post.
(Read also: Indonesia's House speaker allegedly involved in e-KTP mega corruption scandal)
Even without such information, the President can still request the parties' permits be revoked if evidence indicates that money from corrupt practices went into the parties’ coffers.
“[That] could be strong legal ground for the President to file a revocation request,” Margarito said.
The trial of the two defendants charged in the case — Irman and Sugiharto, both former high ranking Home Ministry officials — started on Thursday when prosecutors alleged in their indictment that the two had not acted alone in their efforts to embezzle Rp 2.3 trillion (US$171.92 million) from the Rp 5.9 trillion budget allocated for the procurement of the e-KTP.
Among the names mentioned in the indictment were House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto, who is also the Golkar Party chairman, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and former Democratic Party politician Anas Urbaningrum. (ebf)
