Right of Inquiry in e-KTP Case Effort to Protect Colleagues

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Yenti Garnasih, a Crime Expert from Tarumanegara University, explains that the request for the right of inquiry in the e-KTP graft case is counterproductive. She views that the suggestion which originates from the House of Representatives is a mere attempt to protect its members that are involved.

“It’s counterproductive and would make the public suspicious with the House of Representatives. Assumptions of they're protecting their colleagues will surely emerge,” Yenti said on Thursday, March 16, 2017.

According to Yenti, House members need to conduct an internal evaluation in its institution. She reckons that House members' approval is a loophole in the policy that makes budget misuse possible.

The plan to request for the right of inquiry was suggested by House' Deputy Speaker Fahri Hamzah and Fadli Zon. Their attempts to acquire an inquiry sparked after the case’s inaugural court trial revealed that there are at least 62 members of the House of Representatives in the 2009-2014 period involved.

According to Fadli Zon, the right of inquiry is still an idea; there is no specific movement to make it true. However, he is sure that there will be support for the inquiry to take effect.

Yenti says that the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) should not be hustled by the House’s plan. Rather than requesting a right of inquiry, she says, the House members should show improvement of their performance to tackle the suspecion. “The House of Representatives should not only just police the executive and judiciary, but also probing themselves internally,” she concluded.

ARKHELAUS W. | HUSSEIN ABRI YUSUF