Anas’ involvement in the high profile graft case to be revealed

Former Democratic Party treasurer, Muhammad Nazaruddin, will face another graft trial session at the Jakarta Corruption Court today.

Rufinus Hutahuruk, one of Nazaruddin's lawyers, said that two out of four witnesses who will be testifying today, namely Saiful Fahmi and Saiful Basri, are expected to expose the involvement of Democratic Party chairman, Anas Urbaningrum.

"Both Saiful Fahmi and Saiful Basri are Anas' men in the Permai Group. Just wait for their testimonies," Rufinus said as quoted by kompas.com on Wednesday.

The other two witnesses expected to testify today are Yuli Adam Barata and Astri Diyana Samantri, both employees of Bank Central Asia who allegedly handled the disbursement of Nazaruddin's payroll.

The high-profile case centers on the 2011 construction of a SEA Games facility in Palembang, South Sumatra. Nazaruddin has accused Anas of having a role in the Permai Group, a holding company reportedly owned by Nazaruddin that allegedly used its proxies to win government projects (including the SEA Games project), which were then subcontracted out in exchange for bribes.

Furthermore, Nazaruddin's camp insisted that Anas is the real owner of the company.

Separately, senior lawyer Elza Syarief, who is also one of Nazaruddin's lawyers, said that the suspended Democratic Party official Angelina Sondakh, latest suspect in the case, could also reveal Anas' involvement in her testimony. (asa)