Special House council to probe bribery case

Special House council to probe bribery case

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives deputy speaker A.M. Fatwa said on
Sunday that the House would establish an honor council to
investigate corruption allegations involving legislators from the
House's Commission IX on banking and finance.

Speaking in Manokwari, Papua, Fatwa said establishment of the
honor council could not be delayed any longer as the situation
could worsen if the House ignored public demands.

"I will keep on insisting and lobbying all factions in the
House to establish the honor council to investigate the case
openly without disregarding the presumption of innocence
principles," he was quoted by Antara as saying.

Some legislators from the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction on Commission IX allegedly
accepted US$1,000 bribes from the Indonesian Bank Restructuring
Agency during the Bank Niaga divestment process.

Fatwa said the honor council would be established during the
next House sitting, despite objections from the PDI Perjuangan
faction.

Legislator Pramono Anung Wibowo of the PDI Perjuangan faction
said he had not heard about the plan to establish an honor
council.

He said Fatwa's statement was motivated by politics.

"The House leaders have no right to establish that kind of
council because the establishment of any council needs members'
approval during a plenary session. There are several procedures
to go through before establishing it and it takes time," he told
The Jakarta Post.

Pramono, however, agreed that a permanent honor council should
be established to deal with any violations of House rules by
legislators.

"If it is established as the law enforcer for the legislators'
misconduct, I agree. There is too much politicking if this honor
council is established based on one case," he said.