"I have reported Nazaruddin and his lawyer to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police because he has accused me of having received a bribe for the E-KTP project. I want him to prove when, where, and from whom I received the money," Gamawan Fauzi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi has asked the media to investigate Nazaruddin`s allegation that the minister had received money linked to the electronic identity card (e-KTP) project.

"Since Nazaruddin said the money was transferred (to me), I ask journalists to check the truth of his statement at the Financial Transactions Analysis and Report Center. If someone claims he has handed over money directly to me, I`ll challenge him to undergo a `Sumpah Pocong` (death oath ritual)," the minister said here on Friday.

Earlier, Nazaruddin, former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party who is now in jail for corruption in an ASEAN athlete complex development project, had accused the minister of accepting a bribe for the electronic E-KTP project, which was launched in 2011.

"Some of the money was transferred, some was received by his secretary general, some was sent to the ministry`s project planning bureau. All the details are clear. Regarding how much the minister has received, let the Corruption Eradication Commission reveal it," Nazaruddin stated at the KPK building here on Thursday (Aug. 29).

Nazaruddin claimed he possessed evidence proving the involvement of Home Affairs Ministry officials and of members of the House of Representatives (DPR) in the alleged 45 percent mark-up of the E-KTP project, worth Rp5.8 trillion.

In response to Nazaruddin`s allegation, the home affairs minister registered a complaint with the Jakarta Metropolitan Police against him and his lawyer Elza Syarif.

"I have reported Nazaruddin and his lawyer to the Jakarta Metropolitan Police because he has accused me of having received a bribe for the E-KTP project. I want him to prove when, where, and from whom I received the money. If he cannot prove it, I will file a lawsuit on three charges: false remarks, defamation, and objectionable acts," he remarked.

The minister said the E-KTP project was signed by the tender winner in July 2011, whereas Nazaruddin had been named a suspect in a corruption case in June 2011, making it impossible for him to have been acting as a chairman for the project launch, as he claimed.

The tender winner of the project was state-owned publishing house Percetakan Negara Republik Indonesia.

Further, Gamawan stated, when the project budget was being decided, the chairman of the DPR`s Budgetary Body was Harry Ashar Azis and not Melchias Markus Mekeng, as claimed by Nazaruddin`s lawyer Elza Syarif.

Nazaruddin has implicated several people in his accusations related to the E-KTP project, such as Melchias Mekeng, Olly Dondo Kambe, Mirwan Amir, Ganjar Pranowo, Haeruman Harahap, and Arief Wiboso.

In addition to Home Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi, he also implicated Anas Urbaningrum, Secretary General of the Home Affairs Ministry Dian Anggraeni, committee chairman of the project`s auction committee Drajat Wisnu S., and the ministry`s household planning bureau chief Sugiarto.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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