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Politician slams KPK investigator over threat accusation in e-ID case
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Under investigation: The Jakarta Corruption Court's judge panel confronts Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators Novel Baswedan (right), Ambarita Damanik (second right) and M. Irwan Santoso (second left) with House of Representatives member Miryam S. Haryani (left) in the third e-ID graft case hearing on March 30. (Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)
G
olkar Party politician Bambang Soesatyo has lambasted Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigator Novel Baswedan for accusing him of having intimidated Miryam S. Haryani, a House of Representatives member implicated in the KPK’s ongoing e-ID graft case.
Bambang said Novel did not check Miryam's statement before speaking, adding that his accusation had tainted his good name.
“I will ask for the recording of conversations between Miryam and KPK investigators as evidence for us to report his [Novel] accusation to the National Police for alleged defamation.”
(Read also: Hearing reveals parties that allegedly intimidated witness in e-ID case)
During the third e-ID case hearing on Thursday, Novel said Miryam, a Hanura Party politician, had received threats from five House members, one of whom was Bambang.
Others are Aziz Syamsuddin of the Golkar Party, Desmond J. Mahesa of the Gerindra Party, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker Masinton Pasaribu and Sarifuddin Sudding of the Hanura Party. They are all members of House Commission III overseeing human rights, security and legal affairs.
Novel claimed that Miryam had admitted receiving dirty money from the e-ID project and revealed the names of several other lawmakers who had also received money. The five lawmakers told her not to admit her guilt to the KPK, Novel said.
“Miryam should not mention our names arbitrarily. How could I threaten her? When did I meet her? Why did she bring up Commission III members? Miryam is accusing us,” Bambang said.
The KPK questioned Miryam four times before it sent two suspects, Home Ministry director for civil registry Irman and ministry official Sugiharto, to trial as part of the case revolving around the project with a tender value of Rp 5.9 trillion (US$ 440 million). (ebf)
