As the bribery trial centering on procurement for the electronic identity card (e-ID) project proceeds, it is becoming more difficult for House of Representatives Speaker and Golkar Party chairman Setya Novanto to disentangle himself from the scandal.

Ever more evidence has been presented that points toward his close ties with a businessman who allegedly devised the scheme to plunder Rp 2.3 trillion ($172 million) from the project in 2011.

A hearing of the trial of two defendants in the case, former senior officials at the Home Ministry Irman and Sugiharto, heard on Thursday that Setya was only willing to help businessman Andi “Narogong” Agustinus secure Rp 5.9 trillion in funding for the project because the senior Golkar politician allegedly had joint-venture companies with Andi.

After securing a commitment that the House would approve the Rp 5.9 trillion budget for the project, Andi allegedly bribed Home Ministry officials to rig the tender for the project so that companies he favored could win.

During Thursday’s hearing, KPK prosecutor Irene Putri suggested that Setya’s son Reza Herwindo allegedly worked for a company controlled by Andi.

“Do you know Reza Herwindo? Does he work for a company belonging to Andi Agustinus?” Irene asked Setya. The Golkar chairman confirmed that Reza was his son but denied he worked for Andi’s company.

Setya also denied having a close relationship with Andi as he claimed he only met him twice when the businessman offered to supply campaign paraphernalia for Golkar Party political rallies.

Unconvinced by the response, Irene pressed Setya further to give details about his business ties with Andi.

“Do you have shares [in companies owned by Andi]?,” Irene asked, to which Setya responded with: “That is false information.”

The Jakarta Post has learned that KPK investigators are currently working to establish a connection between Andi’s companies and Setya. Several KPK investigators are convinced that although some of the companies are registered to Andi, they in fact belong to Setya.

The anti-graft body detained Andi after naming him a suspect in the case on March 25. KPK investigators also claim that they have garnered crucial information from Andi regarding the roles of key figures in the e-ID scandal.

During a trial hearing earlier this week, Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who served as deputy chairman of House of Representatives Commission II overseeing the project, said in his testimony that he was confronted by Setya at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, asking him about his tough stance on the project.

During the meeting Setya apparently asked Ganjar not to show any antagonism toward the project, then being deliberated by the commission.

The e-ID project was initiated by the Democratic Party, the ruling party at the time, and Golkar, a pro-government party. Ganjar is a politician from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), which was then in opposition.

In Thursday’s hearing, Setya, however, denied they had discussed the project. “So, Ganjar, in this case, lied about what was discussed during the meeting?” Irene confronted Setya, who responded by saying: “I was also surprised to learn [about Ganjar’s testimony], but that’s OK.”

The panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court then warned Setya about giving false testimony, reminding him that he could be charged with perjury.

Former treasurer of the Democratic Party Muhammad Nazaruddin testified on Monday that Ganjar publicly opposed the e-ID project simply because he was promised US$150,000 and not $500,000, the amount given to the Commission II chairman.