The Jakarta Post

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

Jakarta Post

Nazaruddin keeps finger pointed at Anas before trial

High-profile graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin appears determined to drag Democratic Party leader Anas Urbaningrum into his legal quagmire

Ina Parlina (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Fri, November 11, 2011

Change text size

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

H

igh-profile graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin appears determined to drag Democratic Party leader Anas Urbaningrum into his legal quagmire.

Speaking to reporters at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on Thursday, the former Democratic Party treasurer and lawmaker accused Anas of being “the mastermind” behind the corruption cases in which he was accused of being involved.

Nazaruddin said Anas should be charged and investigated for his crimes. “He was the mastermind behind all these cases,” he said.

Nazaruddin came to the KPK to sign his indictment documents, which had been completed and would be submitted to the Corruption Court for prosecution in the next two weeks.

Despite testimonies from suspects and witnesses in the case saying that members of the House of Representatives were complicit in the Rp 191 billion (US$21.3 million) graft case, Nazaruddin is the only politician facing charges.

The SEA Games case is the biggest scandal to ever hit President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s Democratic Party, which defended Nazaruddin before he started making allegations against his fellow Democratic Party politicians while he was on the run.

Nazaruddin said the bribes he gained from rigging several government tenders were given to Anas to fund his campaign during the party’s leadership election in Bandung last year.

He said that the money used to finance Anas’ political campaign was sourced from Nazaruddin’s firm, PT Anugrah Nusantara. Anas has declined to comment on his alleged connection with Anugrah Nusantara, which was implicated in the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry graft case.

He told media outlets that testimony from a graft suspect should not be considered a news source.

An official document on share transactions shows that Anas purchased a 30 percent stake in Anugrah in 2007, but relinquished his shares in 2009.

Prior to Nazaruddin’s latest accusations against Anas, KPK chairman Busyro Muqoddas hinted that the commission would name more politicians as suspects.

No KPK official, however, was willing to name names.

The commission has summoned other politicians, including those from the Democratic Party, in connection with the case.

Nazaruddin previously accused other former party colleagues — lawmakers Angelina Sondakh and Mirwan Amir — and Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) politician Wayan Koster of being involed in the SEA Games graft case. The three sit on the House budget committee.

The Democratic Party responded coolly to Nazaruddin’s latest salvo, saying it would let the KPK do its job. The chief of the Democratic Party’s internal corruption eradication department, Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin, however, denied that the party had attempted to influence the KPK investigation.

“We respect the legal processes. Just let the KPK finish its duty,” he said, adding that the party would not abuse its power as ruling party to prevent any party members from being named corruption suspects.

Febri Diansyah of Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW) urged the KPK to accelerate its investigation of Nazaruddin’s case and charge every actor without exception. “The KPK must be aware that it has been under public scrutiny, particularly when it comes to Nazaruddin-related cases, which have come under the public spotlight,” he said.

Your Opinion Matters

Share your experiences, suggestions, and any issues you've encountered on The Jakarta Post. We're here to listen.

Enter at least 30 characters
0 / 30

Thank You

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. We appreciate your feedback.

Share options

Quickly share this news with your network—keep everyone informed with just a single click!

Change text size options

Customize your reading experience by adjusting the text size to small, medium, or large—find what’s most comfortable for you.

Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone

Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!

Continue in the app

Get the best experience—faster access, exclusive features, and a seamless way to stay updated.