JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – The Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR) Setya Novanto, a politician from Golkar Party, has resigned from his position last night (Dec. 16).
Novanto’s resignation letter was read by the deputy head of the DPR’s ethics council (MKD) Sufmi Dasco Ahmad during a verdict trial against Novanto, who is alleged abusing his power by promising a favor to PT Freeport Indonesia and asking for, among others, the company’s shares in exchange.
In the verdict trial itself, 10 out of 17 MKD members concluded Novanto is guilty for committing ethical violation and they demanded the MKD to impose a medium sanction in form of dismissing the Golkar politician from the DPR speakership.
7 other members, meanwhile, also concluded the House Speaker is guilty for committing ethical violation but they demanded the MKD to impose a hard sanction, in which the MKD must establish an ethical panel to further examine the scandal involving Novanto.
The MKD’s trial against Novanto was started since early December 2015 following the report filed by Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources (ESDM) Sudirman Said. In his report, Sudirman also provided a transcript and a tape of recording conversation between Novanto, businessman Mohammad Reza Chalid, and Freeport Indonesia’s CEO Maroef Sjamsoeddin. Said tape was aired for twice during the MKD’s trial. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.