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Nazaruddin throws more dirt at Anas in Hambalang trial
Three against the world: Former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin (left), former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng (center) and former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum take their seats to testify as witnesses in the graft case of Teuku Bagus Muhammad Noor at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday
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Three against the world: Former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin (left), former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng (center) and former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum take their seats to testify as witnesses in the graft case of Teuku Bagus Muhammad Noor at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday. In his testimony, Nazaruddin accused Anas of using his clout as party chairman to rig government projects. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama) (left), former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng (center) and former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum take their seats to testify as witnesses in the graft case of Teuku Bagus Muhammad Noor at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday. In his testimony, Nazaruddin accused Anas of using his clout as party chairman to rig government projects. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
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span class="inline inline-none">Three against the world: Former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin (left), former youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng (center) and former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum take their seats to testify as witnesses in the graft case of Teuku Bagus Muhammad Noor at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Tuesday. In his testimony, Nazaruddin accused Anas of using his clout as party chairman to rig government projects. (JP/Wendra Ajistyatama)
Graft convict Muhammad Nazaruddin, former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party, revealed on Tuesday that the construction of the Hambalang sports complex in Bogor, West Java, was one of several multitrillion rupiah state projects rigged by the Dems' former chairman Anas Urbaningrum.
Nazaruddin said that Anas, given his immense power as head of the ruling party faction at the House of Representatives, had the authority to control a number of state projects worth trillions of rupiah.
Nazaruddin also added that Anas served as the de facto treasurer of the party faction at the House.
'Besides the Hambalang project, which was worth Rp 2.5 trillion [US$217 million], Anas also wanted to rig the construction of the House's new office building [Rp 1.8 trillion], but unfortunately the project was terminated by the House speaker. There was also another project at the Jakarta's Tanjung Priok Port,' Nazaruddin said.
He said that Anas attempted to rig the projects in order to collect as much cash as possible to pay for his bid for the party chairmanship in the 2010 party congress in Bandung, West Java. Anas won the contest and served as party chairman until he was toppled by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2012.
Anas also planned to use the money to finance his long-term plan to run in the country's presidential election.
Nazaruddin said that his stints as treasurer in a number of companies controlled by Anas were part of schemes to 'steal money from a number of state projects'.
In relation to rigging the Hambalang project, Nazaruddin said that the scheme was discussed without the involvement of then youth and sports minister Andi Mallarangeng, whose office was in charge of the project, because Andi would not allow any company related to Anas to win the project.
Andi and Anas were locked in a battle for the party chairmanship in the 2010 national congress.
Nazaruddin added that Anas had instructed him to cut 22 percent from the total project budget. Anas later agreed to a cut of 18 percent.
'The 18 percent of money from the projects had been distributed to a number of lawmakers as well as state officials,' Nazaruddin said.
With a grim look, Anas responded to all of Nazaruddin's testimony by saying: 'Yes, it is true that all that Nazar said was wrong. I have nothing more to say. He only spoke about his experience though.'
Anas maintained that as party chairman and the party faction head at the House, he knew nothing about state projects as he did not serve in the House budget committee.
'I also never received money from [the] Hambalang [project], as Nazaruddin said,' Anas said.
Nazaruddin appeared angry with Anas' responses.
'Your honor, his claim of having no knowledge should be interpreted as 'knowing'. That's just the way he speaks,' Nazaruddin said.
Tuesday's hearing also presented Andi as a witness in the trial of Hambalang graft scandal defendant Teuku Bagus Muhammad Noor, the operations director for PT Adhi Karya, the company that won the Hambalang project.
Andi seemed confused at seeing two of his fellow party members arguing with each other and said: 'I knew nothing about the flow of money from Hambalang to a number of lawmakers and
individuals.'
He also claimed to have no knowledge about Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors' allegations that his brother Andi Choel Zulkarnain Mallarangeng received dirty money from the Hambalang project.
Andi and Anas are also suspects in the Hambalang scandal, while Nazaruddin has been convicted in relation to the construction of the Southeast Asian Games athletes' village in South Sumatra.
