TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Former Interior Affairs Minister Gamawan Fauzi said he was fooled by his subordinates in the e-KTP (electronic identity card) graft case. "There were discussions that I was not aware of," Gamawan told Tempo on Saturday, March 11, 2017.
Gamawan's former subordinates Irman, the former director-general of the demography and civil registry of the Interior Affairs Ministry; and Sugiharto, the former e-KTP tender committee chairman, have been named as suspects in e-KTP project corruption case, which estimated to cause IDR 2.3 trillion state losses.
During the indictment reading at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday, March 9, 2017, former secretary-general of Interior Affairs Ministry Diah Anggraini, was also named as one of the initiators of the project.
The indictment stated that Gamawan received money on three different occasions. The first bribe was received through Afdal Noverman, Gamawan's half-brother, amounting to USD 2 million (IDR 19.4 billion) in March 2011. The bribe was intended for Gamawan so that he would not cancel the e-KTP project.
The second bribe was said to be handed over in June 2011 by Azmin Aulia, Gamawan's other half-brother. Through Azmin, Gamawan allegedly received USD2.5 million (around IDR 24.2 billion). The purpose of the bribe was to force Gamawan into naming the Indonesian Government Printing Office (PNRI)-led consortium as the winner of the tender.
Gamawan also allegedly received IDR 50 million from Irman and another IDR 500 million to hold an event in Yogyakarta.
Gamawan said that Irman's appointment as the director-general was based on Diah's recommendation. Irman was considered to have the knowledge in implementing the e-KTP project. Gamawan said that Irman had always acted as his representative in budget meetings with Commission II of the House of Representatives (DPR).
Gamawan also denied meeting with Functional Group faction chairman Setya Novanto, Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, Nazaruddin and businessman Andi Agustinus, also known as, Andi Narogong to discuss the e-KTP project.
HUSSEIN ABRI DONGORAN | MITRA TARIGAN | BUDI SETYARSO
