T

he government antigraft body may summon Prosperous Justice Party politician Adang Daradjatun to help locate his wife, Nunun Nurbaeti, who is suspected to have funneled Rp 24 billion (US$2.66 million) in bribes to lawmakers.

Adang, who is a former national police deputy chief and Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) lawmaker who now serves at the House of Representatives’ Commission III overseeing law, is thought to know the whereabouts of his wife, Nunun, who is alleged of acting as a middleman in a high-profile bribery case centering on the election of Miranda S. Goeltom as Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor.

“If it is necessary for the team of investigators to question [Adang], we will summon him,” Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) deputy chief Mochammad Jasin told reporters on Monday.

Nunun, whose name has cropped up repeatedly in the trials of several suspects who have been convicted in the case, has defied repeated KPK summons by claiming to have “severe amnesia”.

She is believed to be in Singapore, where, her lawyer claims, she is being treated for her condition.

Adang said that he was ready to be questioned by the KPK. “If the KPK asks me information about my wife, I will give it right away,” he told reporters at the House, “But, so far there has been no request.”

KPK deputy chief Haryono Umar said his office could do no more than “summon” witnesses and anyone who was believed to have information about Nunun’s whereabouts.

“We cannot force anyone to undergo questioning if he or she is only a witness, even if he or she is a key witness,” he said.

He said it was different when KPK handled suspects. “We can always force them to attend our questioning sessions.”

However, Haryono said, the anti-corruption body would study all information related to Nunun’s whereabouts, including statements by senior Golkar Party politician and former industry minister Fahmi Idris, who on Sunday claimed to have proof that Nunun had been in Thailand recently.

“We will study the information, especially that from Fahmi,” Haryono said, adding that the KPK had heard about this news on Monday, “That is important information”.

On Sunday, Fahmi said he had pictures of Nunun’s passports showing that Nunun had been traveling between Singapore and Bangkok in Thailand. He said he believed that Nunun was currently in Bangkok.

“Now, Nunun is somewhere in Bangkok; and not being treated in any hospital,” he told a press conference, adding that Nunun had intended to flee or change her identity to escape the charges.

“A friend of mine met her in Bangkok and she was in good health,” he said.

Fahmi was speaking in defense of his colleagues who were detained by the KPK for allegedly taking bribes in exchange for securing the election of Miranda to Bank Indonesia senior deputy governor.

The Golkar Party has said it believes the case is being used as political ammunition.

Ina Rachman, Nunun’s lawyer, refuted the claim that her client was in Bangkok, saying that Nunun was suffering from severe amnesia and was being treated in Singapore.

“She’s still abroad. She was never treated in Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore, but she saw the same doctor who works at the hospital. And later, she changed her doctor,” she said.

She said her client had left Jakarta days before she was slapped with a travel ban.