Rieke Diah Pitaloka defends parliamentary oversight role amid legal interference allegations

Indonesian lawmaker Rieke Diah Pitaloka has responded to a report filed against her by Erin Wartia to the Mahkamah Kehormatan Dewan (MKD). The report alleges that Pitaloka exceeded her authority and interfered in legal processes while assisting a victim of alleged sexual violence.

Pitaloka, a member of Commission XIII of the DPR RI, defended her actions as part of the parliament's representative and oversight functions. She stated that providing assistance to victims is intended to ensure that the executive branch implements the law transparently, accountably, and in a manner that protects citizens' rights, rather than acting as an intervention in the judicial process.

She clarified that while members of the DPR do not replace legal advocates in litigation or interfere with the independence of investigators and judges, they have the right to ensure that complaints are followed up and that authorities act according to the law. Pitaloka noted she has been assisting various cases since 2013, including a recent case involving a former student at a boarding school in Central Lombok.