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Indonesia's House speaker allegedly involved in e-KTP mega corruption scandal
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Staunch supporters: Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto (left) and Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri shake hands at the latter’s house in Jakarta. The two leaders have reaffirmed their support for non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
T
he first trial of the corruption case related to the multi-million dollar procurement of electronic IDs (e-KTP) on Thursday has revealed possible involvement of some of the country's elite politicians, including the House of Representative speaker Setya Novanto.
Two high-ranking officials from the Home Ministry, Irman and Sugiharto, have been accused in the trial of embezzling funds from the mega project, resulting in state losses of Rp 2.3 trillion.
In their indictment, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said the two defendants were not alone in executing their actions. Some politicians in the House of Representatives helped them in approving the budget allocation for the project.
The indictment stated as many as 37 lawmakers in Commission II, which oversees home affairs, received portions of the embezzled funds in return for their help in approving the budget.
Besides Setya Novanto, two former Democrat Party politicians Anas Urbaningrum and Muhammad Nazarudin, are being held in another corruption case, which was mentioned in the indictment. The trio was said to have a dominant role in the case.
(Read also: Setya acknowledges knowing Andi, denies e-KTP links)
The budget allocated for the project was Rp 5.9 trillion (US$447 million). Setya, Anas, Nazarudin and Andi were said to receive 11 percent of the distributed funds, according to the indictment.
"The lawmakers received 5 percent of the finds," a prosecutor said, adding that Setya was said to play a significant role in arranging members of Commission II to approve the budget. (dan)
