T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned on Tuesday Muhammad Nasir, the younger brother of former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, for his alleged role in irregularities surrounding the Rp 16 billion (US$1.21 million) procurement of health facilities at Udayana University in Bali.

KPK investigators decided to question Nasir in the case after hearing testimony from Nazaruddin and two others, Oktarina Furi and Clara Mauren '€” both former employees of PT Permai Raya Wisata, a subsidiary of PT Permai Group owned by the Democratic Party politician.

'€œHe [Nasir] was questioned in his capacity as a witness,'€ KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said on Tuesday.

The KPK has named two suspects in the case: Udayana University'€™s public administration and financial division head, Made Meregawa, and Marisi Matondang, who is the director of PT Mahkota Negara, the company that won the tender for the procurement of medical health facilities Udayana University'€™s research hospital.

The hospital, managed by the Udayana University medical school, is used as a research facility for medical students.

Nazaruddin, who controls a number of companies on the receiving end of government funds, reportedly owns shares in Mahkota Negara and Permai Group, which has a number of subsidiaries.

Priharsa declined to elaborate on Nasir'€™s role in the irregularities, which caused Rp 7 billion in state losses, according to KPK estimates, adding that revealing such information could hamper the KPK'€™s ongoing investigation.