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A Transportation Ministry official on Tuesday denied involvement in a Rp 3 billion ($290,000) bribery scandal linked to a stimulus package for eastern Indonesia discussed at the House of Representatives.

Tundjung Indriawan, the ministry’s director of railways, was testifying at the bribery trial of businessman Hontjo Kurniawan, the commissioner of PT Kurnia Jaya Wirabhakti, a construction company.

Hontjo is on trial at the Anti-Corruption Court for allegedly bribing former National Mandate Party (PAN) lawmaker Abdul Hadi Djamal in return for his company getting a contract to revitalize several seaports in the eastern part of the country as part of the stimulus spending.

The businessman had earlier told the court that he had contacted Abdul Hadi at the advice of Tundjung, who at the time was the head of the ministry’s planning bureau.

“That’s not true,” Tundjung told the court. “I simply said that if you want to participate [in the tender for the contract], you must go through the proper channels.”

Tundjung testified that Hontjo asked if there were any other way to get the contract.

“I challenged him to go ahead and find another way because, in the end, his project still needed ministry approval,” he said.

Hontjo, however, reiterated his claim that Tundjung had recommended he contact lawmakers who were discussing the stimulus.

“He told me that four lawmakers were in charge of the stimulus: Johnny Allen Marbun [Democratic Party], Abdul Hadi Djamal [PAN], Malkam Amin and Enggartiasto Lukito [Golkar],” Hontjo said.

Abdul Hadi is being tried separately, as is Darmawati Dareho, a ministry official suspected of channeling bribe money from the businessman to lawmakers.

On Monday, Johnny testified at the trial of Darmawati after Abdul Hadi repeatedly told the court that he gave Rp 1 billion to the Democratic Party lawmakers, through Johnny’s assistant, Resko, at an apartment in the Kuningan area of South Jakarta.

Johnny denied the allegation, saying he had never accepted any money, nor did he have an assistant named Resko.

The KPK is still trying to locate Resko, who Abdul Hadi said could provide vital information about Johnny’s involvement in the case.

Ten lawmakers have been questioned in connection with the case, which Abdul Hadi has linked to an informal meeting to discuss the stimulus plan at the Four Seasons Hotel on Feb. 29.

The lawmakers reportedly agreed to increase the budget for the stimulus from Rp 10.2 trillion to Rp 12.2 trillion, and after the meeting, Abdul Hadi reported to Hontjo that his company would receive the seaport contract.

If convicted Abdul Hadi and Darmawati face a maximum of life imprisonment, while Hontjo faces up to five years in jail.