REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) was reluctant to comment on Setya Novanto's request for legal protection.
Jokowi said, he hoped that Novanto, who is the House of Representatives speaker and Golkar party chariman, would follow existing legal process.
Jokowi when being asked about Novanto's wish to get protection from the President" href="http://en.republika.co.id/berita/en/national-politics/17/11/17/ozjyjc414-president-jokowi-urges-novanto-to-follow-legal-process" target="_blank">Similar statement frequently uttered by Jokowi when being asked about Novanto's wish to get protection from the President.
"Well, I have conveyed that Pak Setnov (Setya Novanto) should follow existing legal process," he said after attending National Army event at Balai Kartini, Jakarta, on Monday (November 20).
Even though the House of Representatives speaker was detained, Jokowi believed communications between himself and the House will not be hampered.
Earlier on Monday, Setya Novanto told the reporters at Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) office that he has requested legal protection from Jokowi related to his status as suspect in e-ID card graft case.
According to him, the letter of request was submitted three weeks ago.
He was still waiting for President's answer.
Meanwhile, his lawyer, Fredrich Yunadi said, based on his experience the respond to such request would not be immediate.
"It could be answered a year later," he said.
KPK put Novanto on its detention center after the suspect was released from Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital on Sunday (November 19) night.
KPK has been trying to arrest Novanto since Wednesday (November 15). Its investigators came to Novanto's house on Wednesday night and came back empty handed to their office on early Thursday.
Until Thursday (November 16) night, KPK has not heard anything from Novanto. Then, KPK asked the police to put Novanto's name on wanted list.
Later on Thursday night, Novanto was found in Medika Permata Hijau hospital. He was said to be unconscious after his head bumped in a car accident.
On November 10, KPK has named Setnov as suspect in e-ID card graft case for the second time. Previously, he had missed 11 summonses, either as witness nor suspect.
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