Novel Baswedan, senior investigator of the Corruption Eradication Agency (KPK), has said that his agency had several key witnesses in the e-ID Card project corruption case.

"There are many key witnesses, not just one. We should know this. And if one of the witnesses passed away, it does not very much affect the investigation process of the case," Baswedan told ANTARA in Singapore on Tuesday.

It was recently reported that Johannes Marliem, one of the key witnesses, committed suicide in Los Angeles, the United States, on Aug 10, 2017.

Marliem had reportedly told the press that he had recordings to prove those involved in the e-ID card project corruption case.

He had also informed the media and the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) about his concern on receiving threats.

"Of course, I do not want to speculate whether the death of Johannes was related to the e-ID Card case or not. But I was surprised when I read several media reports that there were several people who were glad and called for the e-ID Card case to be ceased because of the death of the witness. It is ridiculous because the case still has many facts," Baswedan, who had investigated the e-ID Card project corruption case, said.

He expressed his optimism that the KPK would be able to disclose the case.

Marliems company, PT Biomorf Lone LLC, was the supplier of L-1 automated finger print identification system (AFIS) products used in the e-ID Cards.

Marliem had reportedly given US$200 thousand to Sugiharto, then director of the Home Affairs Ministry, as a fee for his company to pass an evaluation to participate in the project procurement.

Marliem had reportedly gained a total profit amounting to $14.88 million, or Rp25.242 billion, from the project.

Source: ANTARA