Hans Nicholas Jong, Jakarta – Ridwan Hakim, son of Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) chief patron Hilmi Aminuddin, thumbed his nose at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday and refused to testify about a bribery scandal that involved PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

Ridwan, who allegedly served as a go-between, tried to dodge questions from judges and representatives of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) throughout Thursday's session of the trial of graft suspect Ahmad Fathanah.

Ridwan was implicated in the graft scandal when another key witness, Elda Devianne Adiningrat, testified that she had a met with Ridwan and Fathanah in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Jan. 20, 2013, and had discussed increasing the meat import quota allocation for meat importing company PT Indoguna Utama.

Despite the judges and the prosecutors' best attempts to cajole him into making a statement, he was steadfast in denying any connection to the case. "I've never dealt with it [meat import quota and securing projects at the Agriculture Ministry]. I have often been linked [by other parties]," Ridwan said.

Later he admitted that the meeting in Kuala Lumpur took place, but said he was framed by Fathanah and Elda to join the meeting. He also said that he did not know either of the two people. "What's clear is that the meeting was not planned. I was there when suddenly the defendant came out of nowhere," he said.

Ridwan continued with an onslaught of denials that appeared to irritate the panel of judges and obviously riled prosecutors. His confidence seemed to decrease throughout the trial and he was seen slouching against the chair when he was grilled over some of the dubious information he had given. "You do not need to sit in such a relaxed manner," presiding judge Nawawi Pomolango scolded Ridwan.

The judges ordered the prosecutors to play some incriminating wiretapped phone conversations between Ridwan and the suspects – Fathanah and former PKS chairman Luthfi Hasan Ishaaq.

In the conversation between Ridwan and Fathanah, the latter asked whether the former had received Rp 40 billion, which was the amount of money allegedly promised by PT Indoguna as kickbacks for Luthfi to influence the Agriculture Ministry to increase the company's meat import quota. "Not yet," Ridwan said in the recording.

The panel of judges then asked Ridwan about the money, to which he replied by saying that he did not know anything. "The defendant can be very persistent, which is why I replied spontaneously that I had not received the money," Ridwan said.

The phone conversation mentioned other names, including a party leader with the alias "Engkong" and Sengman Tjahja. According to Ridwan, Engkong is his father while Sengman is someone close to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono who is often dispatched to handle the PKS.

Fed up with Ridwan's demeanor, presiding judge Nawawi threatened to charge him with perjury. The trial continues.