Indonesia’s former Speaker of Parliament Setya Novanto was charged on Wednesday (Dec 13) for allegedly receiving at least US$7.3 million (S$10 million) in kickbacks from funds earmarked for a 2009 government project on biometric electronic identity cards.

Prosecutors said in their indictment that Novanto, 62, received the funds through some corporate bank accounts in Indonesia and overseas to avoid detection.

He also received a Richard Mille wrist watch worth about US$135,000 for his role in ensuring that the project would be approved by Parliament.

Novanto faces a maximum sentence of life in prison if found guilty.

The full original article can be found at www.straitstimes.com