Dems applaud alleged Nazaruddin arrest

Didi Irawadi Syamsudin, head of the Democratic Party’s anti-corruption division, said on Monday that his party welcomed the alleged arrest of graft fugitive Muhammad Nazaruddin in Cartagena, Colombia.

“If the man really was Nazaruddin, the arrest would be a huge step forward for the Indonesian government in terms of eradicating corruption and enforcing the law,” Didi said in a statement made available to The Jakarta Post.

Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Djoko Suyanto told the press at the State Palace earlier on Monday that a man resembling Nazaruddin was arrested on Sunday evening as he attempted to leave Colombia via the beach resort city of Cartagena.

The man was using a passport in the name of M. Syahrudddin, Djoko said.

Nazaruddin, who formerly served as the party’s treasurer, was named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in June for his role in a high-profile bribery case surrounding the construction of an athlete’s village for the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Nazaruddin left the country for Singapore on May 23, only a day before the KPK slapped a travel ban on him.

Since then, he has frequently spoken with journalists via Blackberry messenger from unidentified locations, accusing other Democratic Party politicians, including chairman Anas Urbaningrum, of involvement in many other incidents of corruption linked to government projects.

“Reveal everything and uncover all of these mysteries,” Didi said.

“We are ready to face anything that might result from the arrest. I hope the KPK is brave enough to legally process anyone without exception,” he added.