PKS legislator resigns following pornography incident

Bagus B. T. Saragih, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 04/11/2011 2:24 PM | National

Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker Arifinto on Monday announced he would resign from the House of Representatives after he was photographed allegedly watching pornography during a plenary session on Friday.

"As a pioneer in my party, I am drawn to take responsibility [for my actions] for the sake of the continuity and good image of my party," Arifinto told a press conference at the House of Representatives.

"I would also like to apologize to all PKS cadres and lawmakers. My decision is made clearly on my own. It does not involve any intervention and pressure from anybody," he said.

Arifinto added that he hoped that the incident could serve as a productive lesson for his party and other lawmakers.

"I will also continue to introspect and work to improve the quality of my personality by seeking input from ulema, donating to the poor, and any other good gestures during my life in this world," he said.

Arifinto was captured on camera, allegedly watching a pornographic video on his tablet computer during a heated plenary session on Friday.

Arifinto, however, said the clip was not stored on his computer and had been a link he clicked from an email sent by an anonymous person.

Ba'asyir says porn-watching PKS legislator un-Muslim

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Mon, 04/11/2011 11:29 AM | National

Terrorism defendant Abu Bakar Ba'asyir on Monday commented on a Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) legislator, Arifinto, who was caught on camera last Friday viewing pornographic material on his tablet.

Arifinto was photographed by a journalist during a House of Representatives plenary session.

Ba'asyir said it was un-Muslim to view such imagery.

“How come [he] says he's Muslim [but] watches sex videos,” Ba'asyir said at South Jakarta District Court where his trial session was being held.

Ba'asyir is charged with alleged terrorism after he allegedly organized a military-style training camp in Aceh.

Ba’asyir added that Arifinto deserved to be dismissed from the party for his misdeed.

“This clearly violates God's rules,” he said, as reported by tribunnews.com.

Former legislator Hengky arrives at KPK for questioning

Ina Parlina, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Fri, 02/04/2011 11:36 AM | National

Hengky at KPK: Alleged recipient of the Bank Indonesia (BI) traveler's check bribe, Hengky Baramuli, arrives at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).A suspect in the alleged traveler's check bribery case, Hengky Beramuli, arrived at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for questioning on Friday, after having missed a similar questioning session scheduled for last week.

“Yes, I have suffered from heart problem. But, I do respect the law, so I’m here for the questioning,” Hengky told reporters before the questioning.

“I never tried to flee or hide from KPK,” he said.

Hengky was a legislator from the Golkar Party from 2004-2009. He and 24 other legislators allegedly accepted bribes given to them in the form of traveler's checks worth a total of Rp 24 billion (US$2.66 million).

The bribes were allegedly paid in exchange for the legislators’ support for Miranda S. Goeltom, a candidate in the election of the Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor, in 2004.

He added that he was at his house all the time. “I am confused why the KPK had failed to locate me at my house because I was there taking a rest from my ailment,” he said.

KPK is likely to detain Hengky right after the questioning, just like it did with the other 23 suspects.

Taskforce played a role in determining Gayus' "light" sentence: Legislator

The Jakarta Post | Wed, 01/19/2011 9:20 PM | National

A legislator from the Golkar Party says that the Judicial Mafia Taskforce may have played a role in determining former tax officer Gayus H. Tambunan’s sentence, which he deems as being too light.

“Gayus’ confessions after the trial that explained how the taskforce promised he would undergo legal processes ‘safely and comfortably’ obviously shows the taskforce engages in ‘special treatment’,” Bambang Soesatyo said in a text message. “Therefore, it is not impossible that the taskforce had a hand in the light verdict,”

He said that if the taskforce was proven to have conducted such legal interventions, then it should be disbanded.

The legislator from Commission III overseeing legal affairs said that the seven-year sentence handed to Gayus for committing graft was, “Very disappointing…how can someone guilty of tax mafia only be sentenced to seven years in jail while the prosecutors demanded 20 years.”

Gayus mentioned in a press conference held after his trial that the Judicial Mafia Taskforce's  head, Denny Indrayana, lured him to return to Indonesia when the two met in Singapore in March last year, by assuring Gayus that he would be “safe and comfortable” during the legal process.

House to summon Gayus, attorney: Legislator

Dicky Christanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Thu, 01/13/2011 10:03 PM | National

A House working committee looking to discover Gayus Tambunan’s protectors will summon the graft suspect and lawyer Adnan Buyung Nasution, Democratic Party legislator Pieter Zulkifli says.

Pieter said the commission was also prepared to summon Judicial Mafia Taskforce members for further clarification on the case.

“We would like to hear first hand from these people about what really happened during the investigation,” Pieter said on Thursday.

He added that he would verify details of Gayus’ case with Adnanto. 

“I don’t care if there are people from political parties, even from my own party, the Democratic Party, who might be implicated in the documents. These people deserve only prison” he said.

The committee was formed after legislators said law enforcement officers have lost the integrity needed to handle the graft case, which has allegedly implicated important and powerful persons.