A number of legislators that could allegedly be contacted to smooth the approval of government projects were named by businessman Hontjo Kurniawan during a trial hearing here on Monday.

Kurniawan is a defendant in a Rp 3 billion bribery case involving several lawmakers and officials.

“I was told by the former planning division head of the Transportation Ministry, Tunjung Indriawan, that if I wanted a project to be approved I should approach certain legislators including Jhonny Allen, Abdul Hadi Djamal, Malkam Amin and Enggartiasto Lukito,” Hontjo told the Corruption Court.

Jhonny is a member of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, Abdul Hadi Djamal is from the National Mandate Party (PAN), while both Enggartiasto and Malkam are members of Vice President Jusuf Kalla’s Golkar Party.

Hontjo was testifying in the trial of Darmawati Dareho, a transportation ministry official who is a suspect in the bribery case.

Darmawati had been arrested along with former lawmaker Abdul Hadi on March 2, after she handed over Rp 54 million (US$5,356) and $90,000 to the latter.

The money was allegedly provided by Hontjo in an attempt to ensure that his company, PT Kurnia Jaya Wirabhakti, would win infrastructure development contracts in Eastern Indonesia.

In a separate trial, Abdul testified that Hontjo had first asked the ministry official to introduce him to Jhonny, who was the deputy head of the House budget committee.

“Hontjo was told to contact either me or Jhonny. We then met at the Mulia Hotel on Feb. 23 when he told me about his intention to get the projects,” Abdul said.

After the Mulia meeting, Darmawati apparently sent a text message about Hontjo’s proposal, its budget and regions where the projects would be conducted.

“I forwarded the message to Jhonny, but initially he did not reply. However, I told him if the projects were approved, someone would give [him] some money,” Abdul said.

He added that Jhonny had once complained to him that he needed some money to finance his campaign. They then arrived with the idea to ask for 3 percent of the project budget.

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