T

he anti-corruption commission on Monday questioned three Democratic Party politicians in connection with a politically-charged graft case involving former party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) summoned Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng and two Democratic Party lawmakers, M. Nasir and Mahyudin NS., to undergo questioning as witnesses for Nazaruddin, who has claimed that several party members were involved in rigging a tender for the government contract to build an athletes’ village for the upcoming SEA Games in Palembang.

“I was questioned about the budgeting mechanism at the ministry,” Andi said after the questioning.

The Rp 191.7 billion project in Palembang is a program in Andi’s ministry. The case has thrown up four suspects, including Andi’s subordinate, Wafid Muharram.

The KPK arrested Wafid for allegedly accepting bribes from Nazaruddin’s aide, Mindo Rosalina Manulang and Mohamad El Idris, a marketing manager at PT. Duta Graha Indah, which won the tender for the SEA Games project.

Rosa and Idris have been convicted and sentenced to two and half years and two years in prison respectively for the crime. Wafid is still on trial, while Nazaruddin is awaiting trial.

In their testimonies, witnesses and suspects in the case alleged that several lawmakers took bribes in return for their approval of the project. The KPK has questioned two lawmakers, Democratic Party’s Angelina Sondakh and I Wayan Koster of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).

M. Nasir, Nazaruddin’s brother, was alleged to be culpable in the case as well. He arrived at the KPK several hours earlier than scheduled, and rushed to leave the commission’s office to evade journalists.

Mahyudin NS. was questioned in his position as chairman of the House’s Commission X that oversees sport. The commission had a say in approving the graft-ridden project in Palembang.

“I gave information to the KPK in my capacity as Commission X chairman, it was about the SEA Games housing project,” he told journalists.

However, he refused to comment further when he was asked about his relationship with Andi and allegations that commission members took bribes in connection with the case.

KPK spokesperson Johan Budi told The Jakarta Post that there was a possibility that the KPK could name more suspects if adequate evidence became available.

He said that during the questioning on Monday the KPK did not confront the Democratic Party politicians with each other. (rpt)