The Verdict for Syamsir Yusfan
On December 3, 2015, the Corruption Court of the Central Jakarta District Court found the Registrar of the Medan State Administrative Court (PTUN) Syamsir Yusfan guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment. The penalty given to Syamsir is lighter than demanded by the Public Prosecutor, i.e., four years and six month imprisonment and a fine of Rp200 million subsidiary six months imprisonment.
Day 2 of Novanto Hearing: Counting Days
Maroef Sjamsoeddin, CEO of Freeport Indonesia, appeared before the Ethics Council of the House of Representatives (MKD DPR) Thursday (Dec 3). His testimony gears up political manoeuvres to unseat House Speaker Setya Novanto. Maroef shared public opinion that Novanto and his friend Mohammad Reza Chalid (businessman) tried to broker a deal (extension of Freeport’s contract years before expiry in exchange of some benefits, including the hydropower project).
Updates on the National Legislation Program (Part II)
On November 30, 2015 the Government and the House Commission XI of the House of Representatives (DPR) agreed to start their discussion on the Financial System Safety Net Bill (RUU JPSK). The Government had identified 409 points as a part of the List of Problems (DIM). Of these number, as many as 70 DIM points have been declared resolved, 23 DIM remain a problem, and 315 DIM points remain highly problematic.
The Bank DKI Case
Eight months have passed since the High Prosecutor of Jakarta (Kejati Jakarta) began the investigation into the Rp230 billion credit facility Bank DKI gave to PT Likotama Harum and PT Mangkubuana Hutama Jaya. On December 2, 2015, the Kejati Jakarta finally named 3 suspects.
Time to Arrest Mohammad Reza Chalid?
After a heated debate, Ethics Council has finally aired full conversation between Setya Novanto (House Speaker), Mohammad Reza Chalid (oil trader), and Maroef Sjamsoeddin (CEO of Freeport Indonesia) Wednesday night despite opposition from members of Golkar Party and Gerindra Party. Full transcript revealed even more interesting datapoint about what Reza might have done to staff of Luhut Pandjaitan (then chief of staff of the presidential office).
Day 1 of Novanto Hearing: Poor Understanding about Ethics
Sudirman Said, energy and mineral resources, has been examined by Ethics Council of the House of Representatives (MKD DPR) on Wednesday (December 2nd). Following the hearing and questions raised by council members, we can safely conclude that all of them have poor understanding and consideration about ethical values and laws.
Update on the 2015 Capital Injection
The Government is reportedly beginning the process of capital injection (PMN) to seven State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN). The PMN funds have already been allocated as a part of the 2015 amended budget (APBN-P), but the process were held back due to regulatory hurdels. The government needed specific government regulations to authorize said capital injections, and the draft (RPP) of said government regulations have reportedly entered the stage of harmonization—cross checking process with other regulations to avoid overlaps and contradictions—and prepped for enactment before the end of this year.
Update on the National Legislation Program
The 2014-2019 House of Representatives (DPR) has only managed to enact 2 laws from the 39 laws that it intended to enact as a part of the legislative branch’s 2015 National Legislation Program (Prolegnas). Several bills are particularly controversial.
Potential Impacts of Freeport Lobbying Scandal (2)
Luhut Pandjaitan, coordinating minister for politics, security, law & human rights affairs, has finally revealed about his three meetings with James ‘Jim Bob’ Moffet, chairman of Freeport McMoRan Inc amidst political tensions surrounding the so-called Freeport lobbying scandal implicating House Speaker Setya Novanto and Mohammad Reza Chalid (businessman).
Potential Impacts of Freeport Lobbying Scandal (1)
Ethics Council of the House of Representatives (MK DPR) has finally agreed to take the case of Setya Novanto, House speaker, to a new level. For the first time, coalition of political parties supporting the government win a crucial fight in the DPR. Attorney General’s Office (AGO), meanwhile, has started its own investigation against Novanto.