Two senior ministers in President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s administration received hundreds of thousands of US dollars in cash embezzled from the botched e-ID procurement project, graft defendant and former speaker of the House of Representatives Setya Novanto claimed on Thursday.

In his testimony, Setya alleged that Coordinating Human Development and Culture Minister Puan Maharani and Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, both senior officials of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), each received US$500,000 between 2009 and 2012 when they served as House lawmakers.

Setya made the claim based on information provided by businessmen Made Oka Masagung and Andi “Narogong” Agustinus, who allegedly briefed him twice in September and October 2012 that cash had been delivered to a number of lawmakers, including Puan and Pramono.

Oka was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), while Andi was sentenced to eight years in prison for his role in the case.

“When I asked about these two individuals receiving the money, he [Oka] answered that $500,000 had been given to Puan Maharani in her capacity as leader of the PDI-P faction, and another $500,000 for Pak Pramono,” Setya alleged.

He, however, failed to give details about the roles Puan and Pramono allegedly played in rigging the procurement project, which was worth Rp 5.9 trillion ($453 million). The KPK estimated that the state lost Rp 2.3 trillion due to corruption.

“Maybe they helped Oka in other businesses with Anang on this project. But I’m sorry, I don’t know the details,” Setya said, referring to Anang Sugiana Sudihardjo, the president director of PT Quadra Solution, which was part of the consortium that won the bid for the e-ID system.

The names of both Puan and Pramono did not appear on the KPK’s list of lawmakers who allegedly received money embezzled from the e-ID project. It has never questioned the two politicians as witnesses in the case.

Other individuals implicated in the graft case included former home minister Gamawan Fauzi, who allegedly received $4.5 million; former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, who allegedly got $5.5 million, and Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo, who allegedly received $520,000.

All denied the allegations.

KPK prosecutor Achmad Burhanuddin said it was the first time he had learned about the possible involvement of the two senior PDI-P politicians and that he would look into the claim.

At a recent hearing, former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin said, in his testimony as a witness, that every political party faction leader in the House had allegedly accepted money embezzled from the budget earmarked for the project.

PDI-P secretary-general Hasto Kristiyanto denied Setya’s claims, saying when the graft cases took place between 2011 and 2012, the party had been in
the opposition and had no authority to make decisions regarding the budgeting of the e-ID project.

Pramono also denied the allegation, saying he had nothing to do with the project given that he was not a member of House Commission II, which was in charge of deliberating the e-ID policy. “No one has ever talked to me about the project. This has become a matter of integrity. I am ready to confront him, even in trial.”

Puan, who attended the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community Council Meeting in Singapore on Thursday, did not return a call from The Jakarta Post.

The judges adjourned the trial to March 29.

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