It was just over two months ago that Indonesian politics went through one of its most embarrassing episodes ever as Setya Novanto quit his post as Parliament Speaker over an alleged extortion scandal (a case that the attorney general never followed up on after the country got completely distracted by a coffee murder mystery and panicking over LGBT rights).
Now it looks like the DPR may have to buckle up for yet another embarrassing political scandal. A photo has surfaced of Ade Komarudin, the Golkar party politician who replaced Setya Novanto as speaker, riding in a luxurious private jet along with fellow DPR members Bambang Soesatyo, Titiek Soeharto, Firman Soebagyo and Misbakhun, all of whom are also high-ranking members of Golkar.
The photo has been spreading online for over a week and recently caught the attention of the Public Policy Advocacy Body (LAPK), who reported the politicians in the photo to the DPR’s Ethics Council.
“If it’s proven based on the photo that has been spreading, they must be sanctioned with Article 12b on Gratification in Law 20/2001 on Corruption Eradication and Law MD3 that regulates the ethical standards of DPR members,” said LAPK’s M. Adnan today, as quoted by BeritaSatu.
Adnan added that they believe the private jet ride was paid for by an unnamed business entrepreneur.
BeritaSatu also pointed out that LAPK’s report comes just some time before Golkar is due to hold an election for a new chairperson in April in which Ade Komarudin is one of the candidates.
None of the politicians in the photo have made any public statements in regards to being reported to the Ethics Council. The authenticity of the photo and any details pertaining to it – such as when it was taken or where the politicians were flying to – have not yet been verified.
Update: Bambang Soesatyo denied the gratification claims by saying that the private jet belongs to PT Kodeco-Jhonlin, a company in which he is a shareholder since 2005.
