Ex-speaker in jail for 15 years

– An Indonesian court yesterday jailed a former speaker of parliament for 15 years for his role in causing state losses of about $170 million (R2 billion) linked to a national electronic identity card scheme.

The case has shocked Indonesians already used to large corruption scandals, and reinforced a perception that parliament, long regarded as riddled with corruption, is a failing institution.

Setya Novanto was speaker from 2014-15 and again from 2016-17. He was also fined 500 million rupiah (R443 900).