JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s anti-graft commission said Thursday it will declare the speaker of parliament a fugitive if he doesn’t turn himself in after being accused of involvement in the theft of $170 million of public funds. Local TV reported that Corruption Eradication Commission officials and paramilitary police went to Setya Novanto’s home late Wednesday night in a failed bid to arrest him and were met instead by his wife and lawyer. Novanto, also chairman of the Golkar party, which is part of Indonesia’s governing coalition, has denied any wrongdoing. A Trump admirer, 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.

Source: National Post November 16, 2017 04:31 UTC