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KPK questions Melchias Mekeng in e-ID graft case
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Fighting against corruption: Anticorruption activists rally in front of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) office in Jakarta on Sept. 7. They called on the KPK to immediately detain all parties involved in the e-ID graft case, including Golkar Party politicians Melchias Marcus Mekeng and Olly Dondokambey . (JP/Wienda Parwitasari)
M
elchias Marcus Mekeng, a lawmaker from the Golkar Party faction, responded on Thursday to a summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) to be questioned as a witness in the e-ID graft cast.
He was initially scheduled for questioning on Wednesday, but failed to show up, according to KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah, as quoted by Antara.
Melchias was named in the indictment of former Home Ministry officials Irman and Sugiharto as one of several people who allegedly accepted funds meant for the Rp 5.95 trillion (US$416.5 million) e-ID card procurement project.
The Golkar politician was said to have accepted $1.4 million while serving as chairman of the House of Representatives’ budget committee (Banggar).
The e-ID card procurement project reportedly incurred Rp 2.3 trillion in state losses.
The KPK was also scheduled to question North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey and two former Banggar deputy chairmen, Tamsil Linrung and Mirwan Amir.
“They will be questioned as witnesses in the KPK’s investigation into graft suspect Markus Nari,” Febri said, referring to another Golkar politician who stands accused of obstructing the anti-graft body’s investigation of Irman and Sugiharto.
He is also a perjury suspect for allegedly giving false information during the trial hearings of Miryam S. Haryani, a former lawmaker questioned as a witness in the e-ID case and who was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment in November for perjury herself.
KPK prosecutors claim Olly, Tamsil and Mirwan accepted $1.2 million, $700,000 and $1.2 million, respectively. (vla/ebf)
