Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The original tape containing a recorded conversation between PT Freeport Indonesia President Director Maroef Sjamsoeddin, House Speaker Setya Novanto and businessman Riza Chalid, is in the custody of the attorney general.

This was stated by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Luhut Binsar Panjaitan.

At a hearing with the House of Representatives House Ethics Tribunal (MKD) here on Monday, Pajaitan said he had contacted Attorney General M Prasetyo who informed him that the original tape was with him.

"It was the request of the president director of PT Freeport Indonesia that the tape containing the recording must not be given to another party," he said.

He expressed the hope that the MKD would be able to take a decision that would help bring the controversy regarding the content of the recording to a close.

"Lets avoid rumors and put forward the facts. This is a very good lesson for all of us," he said.

The ongoing case involving the audio recording wherein House Speaker Setya Novanto is heard allegedly demanding shares in PT Freeport Indonesia (FI), has shaken the Indonesian politics.

In the recording, which was secretly taped by Maroef Sjamsoeddin when he met Novanto and oil businessman M Riza Chalid in July 2015, the House speaker allegedly asked for some 20 percent shares of PT Freeport Indonesia in exchange for supporting the companys bid to seek an early renewal of its contract.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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