"For this e-ID card project, I had met Mr Setya Novanto," Tannos, president director of PT Sandipala Artha Putra, said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Businessman Paulus Tannos, who is a witness in the alleged electronic identity (e-ID) card project corruption case, has revealed details about his meetings with Setya Novanto concerning the project procurement.

"For this e-ID card project, I had met Mr Setya Novanto," Tannos, president director of PT Sandipala Artha Putra, said in a teleconference from Singapore during a trial session organized by the Indonesian Court for Corruption Crimes (Tipikor), here, Thursday.

The businessman was a witness in the trial of two suspects, Irman and Sugiharto, both former officials of the Home Affairs Ministry, which handled the project implementation.

"At that time, I think, he was chairman of Golkar Party faction in the House of Representatives (DPR)," he stated, referring to Novanto, who is now chairman of Golkar and concurrently the countrys House Speaker.

The meetings took place between October and November 2011.

"I was asked by Andi Agustinus (businessman) to join him in a meeting with Mr Setya Novanto," he affirmed.

Tannos had gone to Novantos home, but later the House Speaker asked him to make an appointment for another meeting in his office.

Several days later, Tannos and Agustinus alias Andi Narogong had gone to meet Novanto in his office located at the Sudirman Central Business District (SCBD).

Judge Jhon asked Tannos about the purpose of the meetings, and the businessman responded, "I think, Andi just wanted to show me that he is close to Setnov (Setya Novanto), thats all."

Meanwhile, as the trial has been ongoing, testimonies by several witnesses have revealed a shocking allegation that some Rp2.3 trillion (approximately US$172.5 million) of the project funds worth Rp5.9 trillion ($443) were embezzled.

The corruption scandal allegedly involved officers of the Home Affairs Ministry and politicians serving as members of the House of Representatives (DPR) during the 2011-2012 period.

In early March, the KPK had said it was following up on a list of 38 names, so far, including current and former cabinet ministers and the speaker of Parliament for taking kickbacks from the project.

According to some reports, those in the list include current Law and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly, Setya Novanto, and former home affairs minister Gamawan Fauzi.

They have not been charged with any crimes yet, though two mid-ranking officials from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Irman and Sugiharto, as well as two other suspects, Andi Agustinus alias Andi Narogong and Miryam S. Haryani, are already facing trial.

Irman is the former director-general of population and civil administration of the Home Affairs Ministry, while Sugiharto is the former population administration information management director for the directorate general.

Agustinus is a businessman supplying goods and services for the project, and Haryani was a lawmaker.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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