C. Java Governor Fails to Attend Questioning as Witness in e-KTP Graft Case
Jakarta. Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo failed to show up for questioning by antigraft investigators on Wednesday (03/01) in their ongoing investigation into the high-profile e-KTP corruption case.
Ganjar, who is also facing graft allegations in the case, was expected to testify against fellow suspect, Golkar Party lawmaker Markus Nari.
Ganjar and Markus were both members of House of Representatives Commission II, which deliberated the Rp 5.9 trillion ($436 million) procurement project for electronic national identity cards, or e-KTP.
"Ganjar has informed us of his absence," Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) spokesman Febri Diansyah said. "He already sent a letter stating that he was on official duty and therefore unable to attend."
Febri added that Ganjar's questioning session would be rescheduled.
Ganjar, who is a member of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), attended several previous questioning sessions as a witness.
House Speaker Setya Novanto and former Home Affairs Ministry officials, Irman and Sugiharto, are also implicated in the case, which resulted in Rp 2.3 trillion in state losses.
It was revealed during the trials last year of Irman and Sugiharto, who have already been convicted, that Ganjar and Markus received $500,000 and $13,000, respectively, from the graft-tainted project.
With the exception of former Jakarta Governor Basuki "Ahok" Tjahaja Purnama, all members of Commission II, which oversees home affairs, reportedly received bribes to approve the project.
Ahok was a member of House Commission II for the 2009-2014 term, but resigned in 2012 to participate in the Jakarta gubernatorial election.
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