Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators questioned five witnesses on Tuesday in its investigation into huge state losses surrounding the Rp 6 trillion (US$455 million) national electronic identity (e-ID) card program in 2011 and 2012 during the tenure of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono
orruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators questioned five witnesses on Tuesday in its investigation into huge state losses surrounding the Rp 6 trillion (US$455 million) national electronic identity (e-ID) card program in 2011 and 2012 during the tenure of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.
The five were brought in for questioning after the antigraft body collected testimonies from the only suspect in the case, Sugiharto, who was a Home Ministry official, during questioning on Monday at the KPK headquarters.
The witnesses are Harry Sapto Soepoyo, who was a commissioner of PT Sandipala Arthaputra, Benny, who serves as sales manager for PT Vektor Jaya Mekatrika, as well as Christian Atmadjaja, director of PT Virtus Technology Indonesia. The respective companies allegedly benefitted from the multitrillion rupiah project.
KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha confirmed Tuesday's questioning, saying that investigators needed the testimonies from the witnesses to complete the dossiers of Sugiharto.
'They were questioned in their capacities as witnesses,' Priharsa said, adding that the KPK would issue another summons for Sugiharto after Tuesday's questioning.
Sugiharto has been charged under articles 2 and 3 of the 2001 Corruption Law, in conjunction with articles 55 and 64 of the Criminal Code (KUHP) on collective and repeated crimes.
The use of the KUHP articles imply that other parties may have played a role in the case, but thus far, Sugiharto is the only named suspect.
The graft case might have implicated former home minister Gamawan Fauzi but the antigraft body has yet to schedule him for questioning in the case despite the fact that the KPK raided his office to search for evidence in April 2014.
KPK investigators confiscated important documents related to the graft-ridden project during the April raid.
The KPK opened its probe after receiving reports from several NGOs in 2012-2013, as well as additional information provided by graft convict and former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, whose testimonies in the high profile graft case have resulted in the imprisonment of a number of high ranking officials, including former party chairman Anas Urbaningrum.
Nazaruddin previously said that the project had a 49 percent markup, amounting to Rp 2.5 trillion, of which Rp 1.77 trillion was distributed in kickbacks to the House of Representatives, Home Ministry and the winners of the tender.
He also said that the project had been marred with nepotism after it was revealed to the public that one of the tender-winning companies was owned by one of Gamawan's 'close colleagues'. The company's owner, Paulus Tannos, is suspected of having developed close ties with Gamawan when the latter served as West Sumatra governor. Last year, Gamawan denied the accusations.
Gamawan has maintained his innocence in the case and accused Nazaruddin of spreading false information.
Following Nazaruddin's revelation, Gamawan filed for defamation against Nazaruddin with the police in August 2013.
Separately, acting KPK deputy chairman Johan Budi said that he would soon convene investigators to hold a case expose in the case to determine who would soon follow suit Sugiharto in the case.
Johan emphasized that Sugiharto was thus far the only suspect in the case and he had yet to get information from investigators on who could be implicated in the case in the future.
'The investigation is ongoing and progressing. So far there is no new suspect in the case, but we will see what's next after we hold a case expose,' Johan said.
Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.