Setya Novanto Jalani Sidang Perdana jadi Sorotan Dunia
Indonesia Politician`s Graft Trial Delayed by Stomach Woes
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
POLITISI kawakan Setya Novanto yang didakwa terlibat dalam skandal korupsi terbesar di Indonesia menjalani sidang hari pertama di Pengadilan Tipikor Jakarta tapi mengeluhkan sakit perut, yang memaksa majelis hakim menunda sementara persidangan untuk pemeriksaan medis.
Pengacara mantan Ketua DPR Setya Novanto mengatakan pada Rabu bahwa kliennya tidak mampu menjalani persidangan karena sakit, namun jaksa bersikeras mengatakan bahwa kondisi terdakwa sehat. Hakim pun menunda sidang.
Setya Novanto yang kerap disapa Setnov diduga merupakan bagian dari konspirasi pejabat dan politisi yang menilep dana proyek KTP elektronik dengan nilai kerugian negara Rp2,3 triliun.
Sebelum menjalani sidang, Setnov berulang kali menolak panggilan pemeriksaan oleh Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) selama berbulan-bulan namun ditangkap pada November di RS Medistra Jakarta setelah mobil yang ditumpanginya menabrak tiang listrik.
Di pengadilan pada Rabu, Setnov awalnya menolak untuk menjawab pertanyaan dari hakim dan kemudian mengaku kepada pengadilan, "Saya sakit diare, butuh obat tapi tidak dipenuhi."
Jaksa mengatakan penjaga penjara melaporkan bahwa terdakwa hanya batuk-batuk di sel tahanan.
"Ini adalah kebohongan oleh terdakwa," kata jaksa Irene Putri kepada hakim sebelum Setnov diizinkan menjalani pemeriksaan medis.
Setelah dua kali penundaan sidang, di mana terdakwa diperiksa di klinik pengadilan, majelis hakim yang terdiri atas lima hakim bahwa terdakwa layak diadili dan persidangan dilanjutkan.
Majelis hakim kemudian mengizinkan jaksa untuk membacakan dakwaan tersebut, di mana Setnov didakwa terlibat dalam skandal korupsi KTP elektronik dan memperkaya dirinya dan orang lain.
Setnov, yang juga merupakan ketua umum Partai Golkar, yang merupakan bagian dari koalisi pemerintahan Indonesia, membantah melakukan kesalahan.
Pengagum Presiden AS Donald Trump, Setnov pernah tampil pada sebuah konferensi pers Trump di Trump Tower di New York pada September 2015 bersama dengan Wakil Ketua DPR, Fadli Zon. Setnov diperkenalkan oleh Trump sebagai salah satu pria paling kuat di Indonesia yang akan mendukung kebijakan luar negeri AS seperti dikutip Associated Press yang dilansir MailOnline.
A TOP INDONESIAN politician accused of involvement in one of the country's biggest corruption scandals told a court on the first day of his trial that he was suffering a stomach complaint, forcing a postponement while his medical condition was checked.
Lawyers for Setya Novanto, the former speaker of Indonesia's parliament, argued Wednesday he was too ill to stand trial but prosecutors said he was in good health. Judges postponed the hearing until later in the day.
Novanto was allegedly part of a conspiracy of dozens of officials who used the introduction of an electronic ID system to steal more than $170 million of public money.
He evaded questioning by anti-corruption officials for months but was arrested in November at a hospital after being involved in a car accident.
In court Wednesday, Novanto initially refused to respond to repeated questions from judges and then told the court, "I am suffering diarrhea, I asked for drugs but they were not given."
Prosecutors said prison guards reported he was coughing in his cell.
"This is a lie by the defendant," state prosecutor Irene Putri told the court before Novanto was excused for a checkup.
After two postponements, during which the defendant was examined at the court clinic, the five-judge panel concluded that he was fit to face trial and the hearing resumed.
The panel then allowed prosecutors to read out the indictment, in which Novanto was accused of involvement in the scandal and enriching himself and others.
Novanto, also a senior figure in the Golkar party, which is part of Indonesia's governing coalition, has denied any wrongdoing.
An admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump, Novanto made an unexpected appearance at a Trump news conference at Trump Tower in New York in September 2015 along with another Indonesian lawmaker, Fadli Zon. Novanto was introduced by Trump as one of Indonesia's most powerful men who would do great things for the U.S.
