Setya Novanto (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)

Considered one of Indonesia’s most powerful politicians, Golkar Party chairman and House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto has been named a corruption suspect for his alleged key role in the embezzlement of trillions of rupiah from the budget of an electronic ID (e-ID) card program.

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Agus Rahardjo announced on Monday that the decision to name him a suspect was made as investigators wrapped up another case screening and had collected sufficient evidence.

“The evidence was obtained after we examined court facts in the Irman and Sugiharto trial hearings,” Agus said during a press conference at KPK headquarters in Jakarta. His deputy Saut Situmorang and spokesman Febri Diansyah were present during the announcement.

Agus was referring to two former Home Ministry officials who were defendants in the case. Another suspect in the case is businessman Andi Agustinus aka Andi Narogong, who won the tender for the Rp 5.9 trillion (US$442 million) project.

The announcement was made amid the controversy that surrounds an inquiry the House is conducting into the KPK.

Hundreds of state administrative experts have deemed the inquiry constitutionally flawed, while activists believe it was launched merely to undermine the antigraft body, which has sent dozens of politicians to prison.

Setya is the first active House speaker to be named a graft suspect. Soon after he dramatically won an election to become Golkar chairman, he declared the party to be a government supporter that would back Jokowi’s reelection bid in 2019, even though it supported Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto, Jokowi’s rival, during the 2014 race.

Agus alleged Setya had a key role in devising the scheme to plunder Rp 2.3 trillion from the project’s budget during the project’s planning phase in 2011, the budget deliberations at the House and the procurement phase.

The amount of money allegedly lost by the state has made the case the largest example of corruption ever investigated in the country.

Witnesses also told KPK investigators and Irman and Sugiharto testified in court that Setya had close ties with Andi Narogong.

Febri told reporters that the KPK had yet to decide whether it would detain Setya.

“We have banned him from traveling overseas since he became a witness,” he said.

Soon after the KPK’s announcement, Golkar executives, including Setya stalwarts Nurdin Halid, Mukhamad Misbakhun, Mahyuddin and party spokeswoman Nurul Arifin, gathered at Setya’s private residence on Jl. Wijaya in South Jakarta.

Nurul said the party would have a meeting on Tuesday to talk about Setya’s suspect status. “If it’s true [that Setya has been named suspect], we feel so sorry. We really hope there’s no intervention from any parties and we wish all the best for him,” she said.

House Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon said he would initiate a leadership meeting on Tuesday to discuss Setya’s position.

“However, it is the Golkar faction that will have the final say about whether to replace him as House speaker,” he said.

Antigraft campaigners called on Setya to step down from his post. “It is important for him to leave his post in order to ensure that he will not abuse his power to disrupt the KPK’s investigation,” Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) researcher Donal Fariz said.

Staying in power would allow Setya to have control over the ongoing House efforts to step up its inquiry into the KPK, he added.

Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) political analyst Arya Fernandes said Setya’s downfall would not have a significant impact on Jokowi’s administration. “I don’t think that Golkar will withdraw support from the government. Whoever is elected as successor will be someone who has a good relationship with the government,” he said.

Arya said it was better that the party focus on finding a clean candidate to replace Setya in order to improve the party’s image instead of changing the party’s stance toward the government.

Presidential spokesman Johan Budi refused to comment when asked whether Setya’s fallout would affect the government and the President’s relations with the House. Setya has been known as a staunch Jokowi supporter in the legislature. (kuk)

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