Breaking News: Court to Begin Pretrial of Setya Novanto`s Case

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The South Jakarta district court is scheduled to begin the pretrial session of Setya Novanto as a suspect in the electronic ID card (e-KTP) graft case on Thursday, Nov. 30.

The pretrial court will determine whether the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) was right in deciding to name the House of Representatives (DPR) speaker as a suspect. This is the second pretrial session in the same case after the earlier one was won by Novanto.

KPK has expressed its readiness regarding the session. "Certainly, we have been 100 percent ready. Do not worry," KPK deputy chairman Basaria Pandjaitan said Wednesday.

Read: MKD to Decide Setya Novanto's Fate Soon

She added that KPK had not prepared any special strategy to deal with the pretrial, which was demanded by Novanto. "There is no need to make strategies. It is his right to defend himself. So, we also will not be afraid to meet the procedures" Basaria said.

She said KPK would strive to prove that its decision to rename Setya Novanto as a corruption suspect had been taken according to procedures.

"Demanding a pretrial is the right of the person concerned. We must also honor the principle of presumption of innocence. KPK, on the other hand, will also prove what it has done is right," she remarked.

KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said a team from the Legal Bureau has been assigned to attend the pretrial. "The Legal Bureau has been assigned for it. Of course, they will come. Let us just see tomorrow. at the South Jakarta court," he explained.

Setya Novanto has been renamed suspect in connection with a corruption case in the e-KTP procurement project.

ANTARA