"Cahyo was a mere courier for distributing kickbacks to A or B at his house or office, including to Mekeng, totaling US$500 thousand; Olly, $500 thousand; Tamsil; Mirwan; Ganjar; and Arif," he noted at a court session.
Novanto was heard as a defendant in the high-profile case, known locally as the E-KTP project, worth Rp5.9 trillion that had causes losses worth Rp2.3 trillion to the state.
Novanto said when the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) confronted him and Cahyo on Wednesday evening, his nephew revealed he had given bribes amounting to $500 thousand each to House Commission II member Arief Wibowo, head for budget affairs Melchias Markus Mekeng, deputy head for budget affairs Olly Dondokambey, and deputy chairman of Commission II Ganjar Pranowo as well as $250 thousand to Democrat Party faction chairman Jafar Hafsah.
"Last night, I heard $3.5 million was coming from Iwan Barata (money changer) following talks held earlier between Andi and Irvan," he revealed.
He said Cahyo agreed to act as a courier for Andi Narogong, a businessman behind the project and already sentenced in the case, as he was promised the E-KTP project by him.
Novanto admitted to knowing that $500 thousand was also set aside for Puan Maharani, who was then chairperson of the Indonesia Democratic Party Struggle faction, and Pramono Anung, who was the deputy house speaker in 2012.
Novanto said he knew the money was delivered to them by his friend Made Oka Masagung, the owner of OEM Investment Ptr.Ltd. and Delta Energy Pte.Ltd., when he had visited his house along with Nargong in October 2012.
He said Masagung was close to Maharani`s family.
"The close relationship between the Soekarnos and Oka had long existed. However, I did not know the real facts," he revealed.
Novanto had been charged for receiving $7.3 million in the project from Masagung, totaling $3.5 million, and Cahyo, $3.5 million.
He was also charged for receiving a Richard Mille wristwatch worth $135 thousand from Narogong, who bought it along with Johannes Marliem, the director of Biomorf Industry, as a compensation for helping in the process of budgeting for the project.
Reported by Desca Lidya Natalia
(H-YH/INE)
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: SYSTEM
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
