JAKARTA, Indonesia — Prosecutors demanded 16 years in prison for a senior Indonesian politician accused of playing a key role in the theft by officials of $170 million of public money.

At a sentencing demand hearing on Thursday, prosecutors also called for fines and the seizure of Setya Novanto’s assets if he fails to return $7.4 million.

Included was a $135,000 luxury ‘‘Richard Mille’’ watch that he allegedly received as part of the conspiracy.

Anticorruption police allege Novanto was among about 80 people, mostly officials and legislators, who used the introduction of a $440 million electronic identity card system in 2011 and 2012 to steal more than a third of the funds.

Novanto, the former speaker of Indonesia’s Parliament and senior member of the Golkar party, denies any wrongdoing.

associated press