Nazaruddin awaits collaborator status

JAKARTA. Graft convict and former member of the Democratic Party Muhammad Nazaruddin lamented the Corruption Eradication Commission’s (KPK) tardy response to his request to be a justice collaborator.

Nazaruddin said on Monday that he would refuse to testify in the trials of a number of high profile graft suspects.

“The witness is reluctant to testify because his request to be granted the status of justice collaborator has yet to be approved by the KPK,” KPK prosecutor Supardi told the panel of judges at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday.

Nazaruddin refused to testify in the case against former youth and sports minister and Democratic Party politician Andi Mallarangeng, who has been charged with corruption in the Rp 2.5 trillion (US$212 million) National Games (PON) Hambalang sport complex project in West Java.

“Nazaruddin formally filed his request to the KPK, but so far there has been no response,” Supardi said.

Nazaruddin, in his role as former treasurer of the ruling Democratic Party, holds information relating to the corrupt practices of many state officials, including lawmakers at the House of Representatives.

The Jakarta Corruption Court sentenced Nazaruddin to four years and 10 months in prison for accepting Rp 4.6 billion in the rigged construction of the SEA Games athletes village in South Sumatra.

Nazaruddin also disclosed dirty deals in the Hambalang project, implicating Andi and former Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum.

Responding to Nazaruddin’s demand, KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that justice collaborators should first acknowledge all their wrongdoings.