TEMPO.CO, Jakarta-Speaker of the House Setya Novanto began to strike back parties that dragged him in the case of alleged profiteering name of the head of state and brokering contracts with PT Freeport Indonesia.
Setya plans to report the recording of his conversation with Freeport Indonesia President Director Maroef Sjamsoeddin and oil merchant Mohammad Riza Chalid, in early June, to the police. "I feel maligned," said Setya at Wisma Antara on Monday, November 23.
Firman Wijaya, Setya’s attorney, said his client’s the party who recorded the conversation can be charged under the Law on Information and Electronic Transactions.
He refered to Article 31 and 32 which bans any person without the right to conduct wiretaps. “Without a permit, it violates wiretaping [regulation],” said Firman. "We are studying it."
According to Firman, the study will also be conducted on the validity of the recordings given by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sudirman Said to the Parliament Honor Council (MKD).
To Tempo, on Thursday, Setya suspected recorder of the conversation was Freeport Indonesia boss, Maroef Sjamsoeddin. Setya acknowledged that Riza Chalid participated in the meeting. However, he said, the meeting on the 21st floor of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Jakarta, was at Maroef’s request. "He's definitely the one recording. Who else? Because there was no one else there.”
Transcripts of recorded conversations the three people was reported by Sudirman, on Monday last week. In transcripts that were circulating, Setya and Riza mentioned President Joko Widodo’s name and the Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Luhut Pandjaitan. There were also discussion on share distribution to Luhut and Vice President Jusuf Kalla.
Setya denied. "I was joking, but it became serious," he said. To Antara news agency last Saturday, the Golkar politician also claimed to have the support of the Red and White Coalition (KMP) after meeting leaders of the non-governmental parties in the residence of Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto.
Vice President Corporate Communications of PT Freeport Indonesia Riza Pratama said Freeport would comply with legal process. Riza ensured that Maroef Sjamsoeddin is ready to meet the MKD’s call. "We will comply with the authorities. If called upon, Mr. (Maroef Sjamsoeddin) will come,” said Riza, on Monday. But he was reluctant to comment on the origin of the recording.
MKD on Monday failed to decide the continuation of the case. Some members of the Council, even questioned the legality and validity of the Sudirman Said’s report.
AGOENG WIJAYA | HUSSEIN ABRI YUSUF | MAYA AYU PUSPITASARI
