Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The non-governmental organization (NGO) Government Watch (GOWA) has reported suspected corruption in the home affairs ministry`s electronic identity card (e-ID) project to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), a spokesman said.

GOWA Executive Director Andi W Syahputra said here on Tuesday there was suspicion that efforts had been made to let a certain consortium win the tender on the e-ID card project.

The financial loss to the state could reach Rp1 trillion if there had been corruption in the process of the e-ID card project`s planning, budget proposal, up to the auction`s implementation, he said.

"Everything had been directed to support a certain consortium," Andi said.

GOWA had conducted an investigation on the project from March to August 2011 and found indications of collusion in the procurement of the e-ID card equipment carried out by the home affairs ministry`s directorate general of population and civil registration, he said.

The NGO`s forensic investigators had found 11 visible irregularities and violations in the equipment`s procurement tender, he said.

The home affairs ministry had allocated a total budget of Rp6.3 trillion from the state budget for the introduction of the e-ID card system, including for system`s logistics such as cards, card readers, finger print scanners, cameras, signature pads, servers, and training for 40,000 operators in every district/city.

"We need to be careful with the budget because it requires around Rp 6 trillion ($642 million)," Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzie said last year.

The minister had asked the KPK to help monitor the project`s implementation to prevent corruption in the procurement of the needed equipment. (*)

Editor: Kunto Wibisono
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