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ormer Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum told Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators on Friday that he did not know anything about a corruption case centering on the procurement of vehicle simulators at the National Police Traffic Division Unit (Korlantas).

“I don’t know why I became a witness. I also don’t know what kind of information or statement is needed from me because I know nothing about the procurement process of the vehicle simulators,” he told reporters at the KPK’s headquarters in Kuningan, South Jakarta.

The KPK summoned Anas following a testimony by his former colleague, Muhammad Nazaruddin, that Anas and Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Saan Mustopa met with former Korlantas chief Insp. Gen. Djoko Susilo and the officer overseeing the procurement, Adj. Sr. Comr. Teddy Rusmawan, in late 2010 and early 2011.

Anas said he never met with Djoko and Teddy and he was never involved in discussions on the vehicle simulator project. “I can assure you 100 percent that the meeting never took place,” he said.

He arrived at the KPK’s headquarters accompanied by his lawyer, Firman Wijaya, Saan and his aides, Democratic Party lawmaker Umar Arsal and former Cilacap Democratic Party head Tridianto.

Nazaruddin accused Saan of receiving Rp 4 billion (US$415,000) from Teddy after the second meeting at Hotel Dharmawangsa in South Jakarta at the end of March 2011, according to Nazaruddin’s lawyer, Junimart Girsang.

Saan, however, denied the allegations, saying he did not know and had never met with Teddy.

“That’s a big lie. I am ready to be confronted by anyone named in the accusations,” he said.

Anas backed Saan’s statement, saying that the Democratic Party never received any kickbacks regarding the simulator project.

Meanwhile, Teddy, who was also questioned by the KPK on the same day, only gave a thumbs up and smiled when asked about the two meetings.

Anas’ lawyers suggested the summoning of their client in relation to the simulator graft case was politically motivated as he was summoned in his capacity as former Democratic Party leader.

“What does this have to do with the party? Why was he summoned as a chairman of a political party?” he said, while showing the summons letter.

He argued that if the money went to the party then the KPK should summon other Democratic Party politicians.

KPK spokesperson Johan Budi, however, said that there was nothing wrong with the summoning of Anas. “He was questioned in his capacity as a former lawmaker,” he said.

Djoko has been named a suspect in the graft scandal that further revealed the corrupt practices within the police force. The case, however, has entangled members of the House of Representatives, which has also been perceived as corrupt.

Members of the House’s legal affairs commission have been questioned by the KPK over allegations they accepted bribes from Djoko to approve the graft-ridden simulator project.