Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) interrogated ex-home affairs minister Gamawan Fauzi as witness in connection with its investigation into alleged corruption in the country's electronic identity card (e-ID) procurement project.

Fauzi faced the anti-graft agency's grilling as a witness for Markus Nari, a Golkar Party legislator, named a suspect in the graft case.

"I will be interrogated for Markus Nari," Fauzi remarked on arrival at the KPK building here on Wednesday.

Nari was charged with perjury and allegedly attempting to hinder the Commission's investigation into the e-ID graft case involving two convicts: the Home Ministry's official Irman and his fellow mate, Sugiharto.

He is alleged to have acted in a way so as to intimidate trial witness -- former Hanura Party lawmaker Miryam S. Haryani -- into recanting her testimony.

Nari was also named a suspect for his involvement in the procurement of e-ID during the 2011-2013 period.

The anti-graft body has placed Nari in detention following interrogation by investigators over a case of graft that led to the state incurring losses reaching Rp 2.3 trillion (US$161 million).

Nari is guilty of marking up the budget for an e-ID project at the House of Representatives. He is alleged to have accepted Rp4 billion from Irman.

The Jakarta Corruption Court found Irman and Sugiharto guilty in the case in July 2017. Presently, the duo are serving a 15-year jail term.



Translator: Benardy Ferdiansyah, Sri Harya
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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