DPR to Summon AGO, Info Ministry Over Indosat Case

Jakarta - The House of Representatives (DPR) plans to summon the Attorney General's Office and the Communication and Information Ministry in connection with alleged misuse of 3G spectrum by telecommunications operator Indosat and its subsidiary Indosat Mega Media (IM2). "We want to hear the views of the two institutions in interpreting Law No. 36 of 1999," member of the House Commission I Enggartiasto Lukito said here on Tuesday. The different interpretation of the law would have an impact on the national telecommunications industry, he said. If the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) considered the IM2 a corruption offense many providers would go bankrupt, Enggar of the Golkar Party said. Another House Commission I member Effendi Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) meanwhile asked government institutions not to intervene in the legal case of Indosat. Instead, they must focus on developing the telecommunications industry. At a hearing with the House Commission I recently, Indosat CEO Alex Rusli asked for protection as the law could not be used as a reference to carry out telecommunication industry. Telecommunication expert Roy Suryo said IM2 did not misuse frequency 2.1 GHz. He said the IM2 was reported misusing the frequency and evading taxes. Roy who was newly installed as youth and sports minister said the accusation is the same as the ruling declaring state cellular operator Telkomsel bankrupt based on wrong reports. Earlier, Communication and Information Minister Tifatul Sembiring, and the Indonesian Telecommunications Regulatory Board (BRTI) stated that the Indosat case did not violate the rulings. However,the Attorney General's Office will continue its investigation and accused Indosat and IM2 of committing a corporate crime. (*)