TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR-RI) for the period of 2009-2014 Marzuki Alie denied the allegation that he received bribery in the alleged embezzlement involving the multi-million-dollar procurement of electronic identity cards (e-KTP).

In the indictment issued by Irman and Sugiharto, Marzuki allegedly received Rp20billion in bribery.

"I've never known Irman and Sugiharto. I've never been involved in any lobbying. I've never been contacted by those named Andi Agustinus, Irman, and Sugiharto," Marzuki said in Jakarta on Saturday (11/3).

Andi Agustinus is a businessman who allegedly played a significant role in deciding the winner of the temder in the project, which was handled by Home Affairs Ministry and managing the project.

Marzuki added he did not expect his name would be mentioned in the indictment issued by Irman and Sugiharto, former officials at the Home Affairs Ministry who have been named as suspects in the e-KTP graft case.

Marzuki claimed that when he was the Speaker, he never heard about budget issue of the e-KTP project.

Marzuki considered that his reputation has been tarnished by Andi Narogong, Irman and Sugiharto; thus, he said he would report them to the National Police Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) for defamation.

DANANG FIRMANTO