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Setya sends letter in lieu of attending KPK questioning
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Busy day: House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto (center) takes a picture on Nov.13 with children at the Sonaf Manekan Catholic orphanage in Lasiana subdistrict, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara. Setya is reportedly on an official visit to the province, which coincided with his scheduled appearance at KPK headquarters for questioning in the e-ID graft case. (JP/Djemi Amnifu)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has, for the umpteenth time, failed to bring in House of Representatives Speaker, Golkar Party chairman and e-ID graft suspect Setya Novanto for questioning on Monday.
Setya was scheduled to be questioned at KPK headquarters as a witness in its investigation into the high-profile graft case, in which the politician is also suspected of having played a significant role.
“This morning, the KPK received a letter that notified [us of] Setya's absence for questioning as a witness, saying that for such a questioning, the KPK has to secure permission from the President,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told journalists on Monday.
He said Setya insisted the anti-graft body must first obtain permission from President Joko Widodo to question him.
If he had attended today’s questioning, it would have been Setya’s first appearance at the KPK since he was named a suspect on Friday for the second time in the same case, and after winning a pretrial motion against the anti-graft body that challenged his suspect status.
(Read also: KPK to question Setya Novanto as e-ID witness)
This is also the second time Setya has evaded the KPK's summons by using his position as House Speaker.
Febri said that in the letter Setya had personally signed, he explained the impunity each House member could expect to enjoy if they were found to be involved in criminal cases. Febri said, however, that such impunity could not be valid for Setya.
“We have analyzed the regulations. Any provision about such impunity is not applicable for him as an individual that has been declared both a witness and a suspect [in the e-ID corruption case],” he said.
Setya was reportedly on a duty in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), to visit his electoral district. He was apparently also scheduled for a television program shoot at a provincial station. (ebf)
