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Fri, 27 Sep 2002

JP/Six defiant lawmakers reported to police by wealth commission

Six defiant lawmakers reported to police by wealth commission

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Senior officials with the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) have reported six defiant legislators to the police because they have ignored the obligation on them to submit their wealth report.

Commission chairman Jusuf Syakir said that the six legislators had failed to comply with Law No.28/1998 on the obligation of state officials to report their wealth.

The six defiant legislators are House of Representatives (DPR) member Hariyanto of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and five members of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) Moegiono, Solihin Gautama Purwanegara, Teuku Bachrum (PDI Perjuangan), Hardiansyah (Golkar), and Abu Hasan (Regional Representatives).

Jusuf added that his commission had set a deadline of Sept. 24, but the legislators had ignored it.

During his visit to the police, Jusuf was accompanied by commission leaders Abdullah Hehamahua, Petrus Selestinus and Momo Kelana, Antara reported.

Meanwhile, National Police chief of detectives Insp. Gen. Engkesman Hillep vowed he would follow up this report, adding that the six lawmakers could be sentenced to four months in prison if convicted.

Responding to the KPKPN move, Assembly Speaker Amien Rais said he fully supported it and also future action by the police. "Why shouldn't there be legal processing?"

Deputy Assembly speaker Sutjipto, from the PDI Perjuangan faction, also lent his support, saying that the legislators had been given sufficient time to submit their reports.

KPKPN sought assistance from the National Police as it was unable to compel legislators to submit their wealth declarations. Earlier, KPKPN had also sought help from the House with the declarations, but to no avail.

KPKPN, established on the basis of Presidential Decree No. 127/1999, is tasked to audit the wealth of all state officials and submit the results to the president and the House.

However, KPKPN is toothless, and it cannot force defiant state officials and legislators to declare their assets as Law No. 28/1999 on clean governance does not provide the commission with the power to impose sanctions against defiant officials or compel them to submit their declaration.