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Setya Novanto asks to be ‘justice collaborator’ (i.e. snitch for reduced charges) in big win for KPK

Coconuts Jakarta Jan. 12, 2018


How the mighty have fallen. Once infamous as one of Indonesia’s most “invincible” politicians for his ability to dodge corruption charge after corruption charges, former House Speaker Setya Novanto recently sent a letter to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) asking to be a “justice collaborator”, which is a wonderfully Indonesian term for what in other countries might be termed plea bargaining (i.e. testifying against criminal co-conspirators in exchange for reduced charges or sentences).

The KPK yesterday confirmed that they had received the justice collaborator request from Setya, who is currently undergoing trial for his role in the massive electronic identity card (e-KTP) graft scandal that is estimated to have cost the government IDR2.3 trillion (US$ 161 million) in losses.

“[The articles of the criminal code Setya has been charged with] come with a life sentence. I think if [the justice collaborator proposal] is accepted, similar to what happened to Andi Agustinus, the legal charges could be reduced to a sentence of eight years in jail. This might be the consideration behind his request for JC status,” KPK spokesman, Febri Diansyah told Antara yesterday.

Febri said the proposal would have to be studied and there would be several requirements Setya would have to meet before he could have his charges reduced, including admitting his own guilty actions.

However, the KPK also requires that justice collaborators not be the “main” culprit behind a crime. While several other politicians have already gotten swept up in the e-KTP investigation, there has not been any concrete evidence to suggest an actor with a bigger role than Setya.

But with his former lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi, having now also been named a suspect by the KPK for obstructing their investigation (in connection with that extremely suspicious car crash incident in November), it looks like the former House Speaker’s house of cards is falling down, and he may be desperate to do whatever he can to save himself from a lifetime in prison.


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