Speaker of the House Setya Novanto leaves a courtroom after appearing as a witness in an embezzlement case involving electronic identity cards in Jakarta. (Photo: REUTERS)Hanoi (VNA) – Speaker of Indonesia’s People’sRepresentative Council Setya Novanto, also President of Golkar, the secondlargest political party of the country, was detained by the CorruptionEradication Commission (KPK) on November 19.
Novanto, 62, is under investigation over his alleged role incausing the country’s loss of 170 million USD which was detected in 2014.
He was admitted to hospital after a car accident in south ofJakarta capital city on November 16. The KPK decided to arrest him on November17 but the accident forced the body to suspend its plan to question him.
On November 19, Novanto was transferred from the hospital toa detention centre after medical staff affirmed that his condition did notrequire hospitalisation.
Earlier, Novato’s lawyer filed a petition against his trialfor corruption, which is scheduled for November 30 at the South Jakarta DistrictCourt. Novanto has denied any wrongdoings in the case.
The KPK is probing the major corruption case involving anetwork of 80 people and some companies that took advantage of the launch of a 440-million-USDelectronic identification card system since 2011 to steal more than one thirdof Government budget.
Many high-profile lawmakers are accused of accepting bribesin connection with the case.-VNA
