Setya Novanto Breaks Down in Tears during E-KTP Court Trial
22 March 2018 13:46 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Electronic ID card (e-KTP) corruption defendant Setya Novanto broke down in tears before Judges and prosecutors when he was giving a statement in the Corruption Court trial held today.
In between sobs, Setya Novanto apologized to every Indonesian citizen for his actions, all the while lowering his head facing the ground.
“Firstly, I would like to offer my sincerest apology from the bottom of my heart to you Honor team of Judges, to the prosecutors, every Indonesian citizen, and journalists,” said Setya in today’s court trial.
Despite his dramatic apology, Setya persists to deny of ever receiving the USD7.3 million and a Richard Mille wristwatch valued at USD135,000, from what is now known as the e-KTP graft case.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors accused him of being the person responsible for approving the e-KTP budget in the House of Representatives (DPR) in 2010-2011, back when Setya was DPR’s Golkar Party Chairman.
Setya Novanto is currently facing charges of violating Article 2 and 3 of Law No 31 on corruption.
“Alhamdulillah (praise to God), I have yet to receive the money up to this day,” Setya Novanto said. However, Setya Novanto promised that he will return the money that he is accused of receiving if he is proven guilty of the crime. He has returned five billion rupiahs to the KPK’s bank account through his wife Deisti Astriani Tagor.
ALFAN HILMI
