Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said he had asked three state agencies to try to bring home former Democrat Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin who is now reported to be in Singapore.

"Nazaruddin`s safety must also be guarded," he said in a press statement issued on Sunday.

He said National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo, Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa and Head of the State Intelligence Board Sutanto through their respective agencies should make an effort to bring home Nazaruddin if the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) intended to summon him for investigation.

Nazaruddin was allegedly involved in the corruption case implicating Wafid Muharram, secretary of the sports and youth affairs ministry. The case had seriously ruffled the ruling Democrat Party.

The Democrat Party`s Ethics Council fired Nazaruddin as the party`s general treasurer on Monday (May 23), two days after the Constitutional Court (MK) chairman Mahfud MD reported to Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as the party`s chief patron that Nazaruddin had tried to give the MK gratification money amounting to S$120 thousand in September 2010.

Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar on Thursday night (May 26) confirmed that Nazaruddin had flown out to Singapore a day before KPK clamped an overseas travel ban on him.

According to the minister, Nazaruddin left for Singapore on Monday (May 23) at 19.30 pm Western Indonesia Time (WIB) by a Garuda Indonesia flight.

Earlier, chief of the Democrat Party faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) Muhammad Jafar Hafsah expressed hope that Nazaruddin would be cooperative if the KPK wanted him to return to Indonesia soon.

"What is clear, Nazaruddin has committed himself to return to Indonesia and show up (at the KPK building) if summoned by KPK," Jafar said.

Only by fulfilling the KPK`s summons could Nazaruddin clarify the accusation leveled on him, he said.

Jafar said Nazaruddin who is a member of the House Commission VII left for Singapore on Monday (May 23) for healthcare. Meanwhile, the Director General of Immigration received a copy of overseas travel ban imposed by the KPK on Nazaruddin only on May 24.

"The Secretariat of the Democrat Party faction received a permit for healthcare on May 23, 2011 at 05.00 p.m. The letter is dated May 20, 2011," he said.

Because Nazaruddin traveled to Singapore for healthcare, the letter was merely a notification for the House faction, he said.(*)
(S012/H-NG/O001)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
Copyright © ANTARA 2011