Police to question 2 party colleagues in Anas defamation case

On Wednesday, the National Police is scheduled to question two witnesses in a defamation case filed by Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum against the party's former treasurer and fugitive graft suspect M. Nazaruddin.

"Today the police will question two witnesses from the Democratic Party. They are Hutomo Agus Subekti and Amal Al Gozali," Anas' lawyer, Patra M. Zen, said Wednesday at the National Police headquarters.

Anas filed charges of defamation against Nazaruddin for his allegations that Anas had embezzled Rp 50 billion (US$5.9 million) from the Hambalang Stadium project in 2010 and used the money to buy votes in the party's chairmanship election.

Patra added that Anas had recommended both witnesses and that they would be questioned about Nazaruddin's messages and media reports that contained the allegations.

However, Patra said that his side would not attempt to punish the media for publishing the Nazaruddin messages.

"I repeat, we will not report the media or journalists to police. If eventually they are summoned by investigators, it will only be for clarification purposes," Patra said. (rpt)