T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) says it will disregard public statements made by embattled Democratic Party politician Muhammad Nazaruddin that accuse other lawmakers of involvement in a bribery case.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said on Friday that Nazaruddin, who has fled to Singapore and ignored two summonses to testify in two separate corruption cases, must return to Indonesia and make a formal
testimony.

“A lawmaker is supposed to be a model of a good citizen. It would be far better if Nazaruddin informed us about any information he has by responding to our summons rather than making statements to the
media,” he said.

Nazaruddin was recently dismissed from his position as the treasurer of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party after he was named a suspect in a corruption case centering on a SEA Games construction project, and separately for attempted bribery.

Nazaruddin left for Singapore a day before the government slapped him with a travel ban.

He has said he is in the city state to undergo medical treatment for a heart problem.

A subsequent KPK investigation revealed that he is also connected to a botched procurement project at the National Education Ministry.

Nazaruddin distributed text messages to media outlets on Thursday and Friday, in which he accused his colleagues on the House of Representatives’ budgetary board of being involved in the SEA Games scandal.

“It was not me,” Nazaruddin said, denying his role in the case.

The lawmaker has been accused of having sought Rp 25 billion in bribes from the construction company that had won the tender for the project.

Nazaruddin said that I Wayan Koster, an Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) lawmaker, was the one who had received the bribe.

Koster, Nazaruddin said in the messages, then gave the illicit money to Democratic Party member Angelina Sondakh, who later handed it over to the budgetary body’s chairman, Mirwan Amir, also from the Democratic Party.

The money was allegedly used to win the board’s approval for the SEA Games construction project based in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Koster declined to respond the allegation.

“Things would be more complicated if I commented,” Koster said.

It was not possible to reach Mirwan on Friday.

Angelina, whose alleged role in the case was revealed last month, has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in the board’s approval of the project.

Nazaruddin added that Angelina and Mirwan had reported her role in the case to the Democratic Party faction’s fact-finding team that was formed to investigate the case.

A member of the fact-finding team, Ruhut Sitompul, has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.

Party deputy secretary-general Saan Mustofa said the party would seek clarification about Nazaruddin’s accusations as soon as possible.

“This allegation could really disrupt the party’s image if it goes on and on,” Saan said. (awd)