Irman (left), former director general of population and civil registration, and Sugiharto (right), director of population administration information management, both with the Home Ministry -- enter the courtroom. The two are being tried for corruption related to the national e-ID equipment procurement program between 2011-2012 at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Thursday (9/3). In the indictment read by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors, a number of big names were also said to be involved in the alleged corruption causing potential state losses of Rp 2.3 trillion.
JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The corruption case on the procurement of the electronic identity (e-ID) cards in the 2011-2012 period was a nearly perfect crime. Corruption took place throughout the project and involved members of the legislative, executive, state-owned enterprises and private sectors.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) ensured the investigation on the case would not stop regarding the two defendants -- former director general of population and civil registration of the Home Ministry Irman and former director of population administration information management of the Home Ministry Sugiharto.
"There will be more suspects. Let’s just wait," said KPK chairman Agus Rahardjo in Jakarta on Thursday.
Indictment
In the indictment against Irman and Sugiharto, which was read at the Corruption Court in Jakarta yesterday, there were 60 members of the House of Representatives in the 2009-2014 period who were mentioned to have received funds from the e-ID project. The project allegedly benefitted a number of officials at the Home Ministry, such as former home minister Gamawan Fauzi and a number of corporations.
During the trial, presided over by judges Jhon Halasan Butarbutar and Public Prosecutor Irene Putri, the indictment mentioned that the e-ID corruption case, which caused the country to suffer from Rp 2.3 trillion in losses, started from a proposal from Gamawan Fauzi in November 2009 to change financing the e-ID procurement from overseas grants to the state budget.
The then Chairman of Commission II of the House of Representatives Burhanuddin Napitupulu, in February 2010, asked for money for members of Commission II so that Gamawan\'s proposal could immediately be implemented. The Home Ministry later involved businessman Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong to meet the monetary demands for the Commission II, which was approved by secretary general of the Home Ministry Diah Anggraini.
As a follow-up from the meeting with Burhanuddin, Andi also coordinated with Irman and Sugiharto. After that, a further meeting brought in Setya Novanto, the chairman of the Golkar party, to guarantee support for the budget of the e-ID project.
When the 2011 state budget was discussed in July and August 2010, Andi again met with Setya, who at that was collaborating with the then general chairman of the Democratic Party Anas Urbaningrum and then general treasurer of the Democratic Party M Nazaruddin. As they were representatives of the Democratic Party and Golkar Party, they were able to encourage the Commission II to approve the e-KTP project budget.
"Through several meetings, it was agreed that the budget was Rp 5.9 trillion, the deliberation process would be supervised by the aforementioned members from the Democratic Party and Golkar Party," said Irene.
Out of the budget of Rp 5.9 trillion, only 51 percent or Rp 2.6 trillion was spent on capital expenditure and financing for the project\'s spending. The rest was used by the House members, officials of the Home Ministry and executors of the work affiliated with Andi.
There were at least 60 members of the House, both from Commission II and the Budget Committee, who also received funds. Out of that number, 37 people, who reportedly received US$556,000, were not specified by the prosecutor.
The prosecutor prepared 294 witnesses to be presented at the trial of the case. Due to the limited time of the trial, the prosecutor decided to bring only 133 witnesses, who were considered the most relevant.
Due to the many witnesses presented, Jhon Halasan Butarbutar disclosed the possibility that the trial session would be held twice a week.
Processing
Separately, KPK deputy chairman Laode M Syarif said that if the names mentioned in the indictment turned out to have participated in the corruption of the e-ID procurement, they could be legally processed.
KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah further explained that in total there were 70 people who allegedly received money in the corruption of the e-ID procurement and 37 of them were members of the House. "They all received a sum of money according to their respective portion and position. During the trial, the people who received the money will be exposed," said Febri.
However, a number of names, who were mentioned the indictment against Irman and Sugiharto to have received the money, have denied it. Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna H. Laoly, for example, denied having received $84,000.
Denials were also disclosed by two governors from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), namely Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo and North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey. As they claimed they were not guilty, Ganjar felt there was no need to address it. Ganjar supported the legal process of the e-ID case and was willing to be examined as a witness.
Aside from denying having received the money, National Mandate Party (PAN) politician Teguh Juwarno also questioned the accuracy of the charges.
A denial was also disclosed by a number of Golkar Party politicians ,such Setya and Ade Komarudin. "I never received money from the defendant Irman and I have clarified this with the KPK," Ade said.
"In court, this will be tested openly," added Agun Gunandjar, another politician of the Golkar Party who was mentioned as having received money from the e-ID case.
PAN general chairman Zulkifli Hasan reiterated that his party\'s cadres who were proven to be involved in the e-ID corruption will have their party membership revoked.
Chairman of the Expert Council of Golkar Party Agung Laksono said yesterday that there was concern his party would not be solid in addressing allegations on Golkar Party politicians in the e-ID case.
Another Golkar Party politician, Bambang Soesatyo, said that his party had prepared several plans if the KPK followed up and explored the role of Setya in the e-ID case. The scenario included a decision to deactivate Setya as the general chairman. "However, this can only happen if the KPK processes the names mentioned in the indictment preceding a decision to name him as suspect," Bambang said.
