TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) must do its utmost to uncover the corruption over the supply of electronic ID cards (e-KTP). There are increasingly strong indications that the project was a cash cow for officials, businesspeople and members of the House of Representatives (DPR). Former DPR speaker Setya Novanto was not the only politician involved.
Former Democrat Party chair M. Nazaruddin testified about the distribution of bribes from the Rp5.84 trillion project at Setya’s trial last week. He alleged that all the DPR faction chairs in the 2009-2014 DPR received a share. Nazar’s testimony showed that many people received a cut of the project funding. Losses as a result of embezzlement of the e-KTP funds are thought to total Rp2.3 trillion.
The administration of the project, which began in 2011, was chaotic. The stench of corruption was soon apparent. Officials and businesspeople directly managing the supply of the e-KTP have been found guilty. Setya Novanto, who had seemed adept at evading the law, was eventually put on trial charged with playing a significant role in leading the project astray when he was chair of the Golkar party faction in the DPR.
But the KPK must do further investigations. The KPK prosecutors need to summon all the faction chairs named by Nazaruddin. Some of these faction heads now occupy important positions. Tjahjo Kumolo, now home affairs minister, was chair of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) faction when the e-KTP project began. He was in that position from 2009 to 2012, when he was replaced by Puan Maharani-now coordinating minister for human development and culture.
There are indications that Nazaruddin was not simply launching accusations at random. Former Democrat Party faction chair Jafar Hafsah admitted to receiving Rp1 billion from the e-KTP project from Nazaruddin. He returned the money to the KPK last year.
In order to maintain justice and equality before the law, it is a matter of urgency that others guilty of embezzlement of e-KTP funds be investigated. Although Setya Novanto played a dominant role, it is not possible that he acted alone, without the involvement of his colleagues in Senayan. Leaders of political factions played an important part in the matter, as well as members of the DPR Budgeting Board and Governance Commission.
KPK investigators do not have to seek to bring bribery charges against Senayan politicians, as these are more difficult to prove. They could be prosecuted for abuses of power, as Setya Novanto was. The Golkar politician was charged with illegally enriching himself or others in a way that caused losses to the state. He was also charged with abuse of authority to benefit himself or others.
The possibility that e-KTP project funds also went to other political parties also needs to be investigated. Jafar’s testimony showed that money from the project was not used for personal gain. The KPK could investigate the possibility that funds passed into the coffers of parties. Nazaruddin could be questioned about this as he is certain to know the facts.
The KPK needs to show there is no favoritism in the e-KTP case by going after everybody who was involved. Funds for a project with the potential of bringing great benefit to the public should not be used as political spoils.
Read the full article in this week's edition of Tempo English Magazine
