Prosecutors of The Special Court for Corruption Crimes (Tipikor) read out the indictment for electronic ID cards (e-KTP) graft case on Thursday.
The e-KTP procurement costs Rp 5.9 trillion, but the number was allegedly manipulated as the anti-graft agency found a massive bribery scheme that cost Rp 2.3 trillion of taxpayers' money.
Home Affairs Ministry's former director general for population and civil registration Irman and Sugiharto, a former managing director of population administrative information at the Directorate General of Population and Civil Registration have been named as suspects.
Several politicians from a number of political party factions such as Democratic Party, Golkar, Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), Prosperous Justice Party (PKS), People's Conscience Party (Hanura), Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra), United Development Party (PPP) and National Awakening Party (PKB) have also been mentioned to be involved in the case. Some officials from the Home Affairs Ministyhave also been said to receive some money.
According to prosecutor Yunarwanto Wawan, only 51 percent of the budget (Rp 3.1 trillion) was spent for the purpose, while the remaining 49 percent (Rp 2.8 trillion) was allegedly distributed to members of the parliament. We have made a simple calculation of what kind of important programs the government would've been able to fund with thatamount of money. Here they are:
1. Funding scholarship for postgraduateand doctorate degree for more than 6,000 students
The Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education's (LPDP) budget this year increased to Rp 2 trillion from the previous year's Rp 1,3 trillion. The 2016 budget was sufficient to givescholarships to 6,293 students.
2. Recruiting almost 50 thousand civil servants
The government allocated Rp 2 trillion to hire non-permanent employees, teachers and agricultural staff for 49,606 civil servants candidate in 2016.
3. Maintaining the Government Rice Reserve (CBP)
In 2016, the budget for maintaining CBP was Rp 2 trillion.
4. Building a ring road
Temanggung regency budgeted Rp 2.2 million for the construction of two ring roads that strecth for 22 kilometers. The ring roads connect Temanggung, Campursari and Parakan.
5. Reactivating mass transit tram
In 2015, The Ministry of Transportation, The Surabaya CityGovernment and state-owned train operator PT KAI agreed on the realization of a tram project in Surabaya thatcosts around Rp 2.2 trillion.
(brl/red)
