"There would be no extraordinary meeting," party figure, Nusron Wahid, who is also the head of the National Agency for Placement and Protection of Indonesian Migrant Workers (BNP2TKI), said after meeting President Joko Widodo at the state palace.
He stated that Novanto has only been allegedly involved in the ID project, while the allegation was yet to be legally verified.
"Let us hold the principle of presumption of innocence. There has been no statement from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) with regard to the suspect. Indeed, many suspects have been named by KPK," he noted.
Golkar is now focusing its attention on the 2018 regional elections as well as the legislative and presidential elections in 2019, he remarked.
"We are making consolidations to prepare and win the 2018 regional elections as well as the legislative and presidential elections in 2019 (to assure Widodos reelection).
It was reported that Novanto has been named a suspect for his involvement in creating a smooth budget for the procurement of the E-ID project worth Rp5.95 trillion in the 2011-2012 period.
"In Feb 2010, Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong and first defendant Irman agreed to meet Novanto, as then chairman of Golkar Party faction, for confirmation of Golkar Partys support for the E-ID project," KPK chief prosecutor Irene Putri said at the court here on Thursday (March 9).
KPK has named Irman, the director general of Civil Registration and Population of the ministry of home affairs, and Sugiharto, an official responsible for making commitment to the directorate general, as suspects in the case.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
