KPK spokesperson Febri Diansyah said that Fahmi, the executive director of PT Melati Technofo Indonesia, would be detained at the Guntur detention center in South Jakarta for the next 20 days.

The antigraft body decided to detain Fahmi after questioning him for eight hours at the KPK’s headquarters in Kuningan.

“FD’s arrest was decided through a case screening. FD is one of the suspects who had been identified after a sting operation was done and when the suspects were named the KPK was quite sure that these four people committed crimes,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said, referring to Fahmi by his initials.

Fahmi, along with two executives of PT Melati Technofo Indonesia (MTI), allegedly bribed Bakamla deputy chief Eko Susilo Hadi with Rp 2 billion (US$148,887) to win the bidding for the procurement of sea surveillance satellite systems worth Rp 400 billion.

All four have been named suspects in the case.

(Read also: KPK looks into large-scale maritime graft)

National Police chief Gen. Tito Karnavian (left) wipes his forehead as Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) chairman Ma’ruf Amin (center) and Islam Defenders Front (FPI) chairman Rizieq Shihab look on during a press conference at the MUI in Jakarta last month. Ma'ruf confirmed on Friday that graft suspect Fahmi is the council's treasurer. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)

According to the KPK’s investigation, the Rp 2 billion was part of a commitment fee amounting to 7.5 percent of the total value of the project. KPK investigators also subsequently went to the MTI office in Jakarta and arrested another MTI executive, identified only by the initials DSR.

Speaking after the interrogation, Fahmi said that he went to the KPK on his own initiative as he had been outside of Indonesia in the Netherlands when the sting operation that led to Eko’s arrest was carried out. “I was supposed to return to Indonesia on Dec. 29, but because there was this news, I came home [early],” he said. “So it’s clear that I’m not a fugitive. I have the good intention to clarify [the allegations], but, God willing, God will make this his best test for me. We’ll see what God’s scenario is like.”

Fahmi also denied the allegation that he knew Eko. “I don’t know that officer,” he said.

Fahmi’s lawyer, Maqdir Ismail, said that his client knew nothing about the alleged bribery attempt and that there were someone else who had initiated the bribery.

“What I know is that this company was owned by another person which he [Fahmi] wanted to take over. As for the tender process, it was done by the old owner of the company,” he said.

(Read also: AGO did not interfere with arrested Bakamla official)

Besides the four named suspects, the KPK alleged that Eko had rigged the projects with the help of Bakamla director for data and information Commodore Bambang Udoyono, a one-star admiral in the Navy seconded to Bakamla, in exchange for kickbacks from the businesspeople.

Following the accusation, the Military Police have moved quickly to investigate Bambang. TNI spokesperson Brig. Gen. Wuryanto said the Military Police had started questioning witnesses in the case to investigate allegations that Bambang had received money in connection with the procurement project, adding that investigators would also soon question Bambang.

“Yes, there are indications [of Bambang receiving bribes]. We will dig further to get details about it in the investigation,” Wuryanto told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.

Busted: Fahmi Darmawansyah (second right), the treasurer of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) and president director of PT Melati Technofo Indonesia, is escorted to leave the Corruption Eradication Commission building in Jakarta on Friday. Fahmi has been detained by the KPK for his alleged role in a graft case centered on a procurement project involving the Maritime Security Board (Bakamla).(Antara/Sigid Kurniawan)

The KPK does not have any authority to investigate Bambang because of his status as a TNI member, but the antigraft body has asked the TNI about the possibility of allowing KPK investigators to help military investigators in the case.

Maqdir has denied the allegations that Fahmi, the husband of actress Inneke Koesherawati, was backed by Bambang. “Don’t make such [allegations]. Slander is more evil than murder,” he said.

MUI chairman Ma’ruf Amin confirmed that Fahmi is the council’s treasurer. “Yes it’s true, but for the MUI’s statement on the case, I have delegated that to the council’s secretary-general, Anwar Abbas, to explain,” Ma’ruf told the Post.