TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Setya Novanto should stop playing innocent and putting on an act. Pretending to have evidence of the involvement of other politicians in the corruption regarding the procurement of electronic ID cards (e-KTP)-or conversely, concealing important facts about their involvement-will only make matters worse for him. If he really does have such evidence, the former House of Representatives (DPR) speaker should immediately hand it over to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). If not, he must stop talking nonsense.
Setya's testimony two weeks ago at the Corruption Court, in which he named Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP) faction head Puan Maharani and former DPR deputy speaker Pramono Agung was shocking, but not enough to have them named as suspects. The problem is that Setya only heard about the doling out of US$50,000 in bribes to the two senior PDIP officials from another witness: Made Oka Masagung. Once Oka, PuanandPramono all denied the accusations, Setya's accusations came to nothing.
As the central figure behind the plunder of the Rp5.7 trillion e-KTP funds, Setya clearly knows much. He could tell KPK investigators about the parts played by all the Senayan politicians in the scandal of these ill-gotten gains. Rather than focusing on who received how much, Setya could blow the case wide open by stating who did what. Based on such a testimony, the KPK would be able to name new suspects.
Unfortunately, Setya has not been entirely open. He has reported several other DPR members, such as Hanura Party politician Miryam S.Haryaniand Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo for taking e-KTP bribes. Since last January, he has sent the KPK five letters containing various pieces of information known to him, including about the alleged involvement of Puan and Pramono. But none of this is new information.
Therefore, it is difficult to not suspect that the main motive for Setya's "singing" is political. By mentioning the names of other politicians, but not putting forward authentic and legally robust evidence, Setya is negotiating with his opponents and allies from behind bars. And by turning his trial into a political stage by stirring up a sensation with his testimony, he is hoping for a specific payback. If these suspicions are correct, the judges should increase his eventual sentence. At present, the prosecution has only asked for a 16-year jail term.
However, if he really wants to become a justice collaborator, Setya's first move is to admit his wrongdoing. He must be honest in confessing he was the mastermind behind the mega-corruption. He must also admit that he stole at least Rp71 billion from the project, and did not simply accept a Richard Mille watch worth Rp1.3 billion. Only if he does this should a request to reduce his sentence be considered.
Conversely, the KPK cannot only rely on Setya's confession. Information already in the hands of investigators must also be taken into account. Armed with this, all the politicians involved in this scandal must be put on trial.
Read the full article in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
