E-ID graft trial defendant Irman has rejected House of Representatives Speaker Setya Novanto’s testimony, in which he claimed that he did not know Irman and his fellow official at the Home Ministry, Sugiharto.  

“I still stand behind [my statements recorded in] the case investigation report. As far as I can remember, we [Irman and Sugiharto] met with Pak Setya Novanto three times,” Irman said during a hearing at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday.

He further said that the first meeting with Setya was held in a hotel in Jakarta in February 2010. Apart from the Golkar Party politician, Sugiharto, then Home Ministry secretary general Diah Anggraini and businessman Andi Agustinus, alias Andi Narogong, also attended the meeting.

Irman said the second meeting was held at the Golkar Party office room on the 12th floor of the House building. The meeting was attended by Andi, who was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) last month for allegedly lobbying and bribing lawmakers to get their support to win the procurement project. 

The third meeting was held in Jambi, as Setya had said, Irman continued. Sugiharto, who was presented in Thursday’s hearing, agreed with Irman’s statement.

Setya said earlier in the hearing he did not know either Irman or Sugiharto. He claimed he had only met Irman once in 2015 when he, along with several ministers, visited Jambi and Irman was then acting Jambi governor.

Responding to Irman’s rejection, Setya insisted that he was not acquainted with the two high-ranking officials at the Home Ministry. “I remain true to my statement and my confessions in the case report were taken under oath,” he said. (ebf)

Source:
courtesy of THE JAKARTA POST

by Safrin La Batu and Haeril Halim

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