WITNESS PROTECTION URGED FOR NAZARUDDIN

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 8 (ANTARA) - Corruption suspect and former Democrat Party (PD) treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin whom police have been pursuing  for over two months since he fled overseas last May was reportedly arrested in Cartagena, Colombia, on Sunday.          Following his arrest,  many quarters in the country asked for protection for him, including a call made by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, Constitutional Court Chairman Mahfud MD and Setara Institute Chairman Hendardi.          During his flight  overseas, Nazaruddin  accused some top PD executives and government officials of being involved in  corruption as he was.          His overseas statements are feared to bring certain parties into trouble so that Nazaruddin needs protection, partly for his own safety  and partly for giving him a chance to speak openly without hesitation about all information he has.         "I ask the police chief to safeguard the safety of the man (Nazaruddin). Maybe, there are many who feel inconvenient (with the arrest of Nazaruddin). We should support the law enforcers so that  real justice can be done," President Yudhoyono said.          Therefore, President  Yudhoyono  asked  Muhammad Nazaruddin to disclose all the information he has on the involvement of other people in  corruption  as he had alleged in his statements from overseas.          "I hope there will  be a transparent, accountable and objective process in  which  Nazaruddin can disclose as freely  as possible (all information he has) for the sake of the truth," the President said  after a fast-breaking  dinner.          During his overseas hideouts, Nazaruddin happened to indicate in a private TV station interview that certain top leaders of the party were also involved in the corruption deal.          This was responded to by PD Chairman Anas Urbaningrum as an unfounded attack to him. In a recent PD coordination meeting  Anas said  that in recent days he had become a target of strong attacks to weaken his party. He said that he felt he was now the target of strong attacks amid the sensational issues plaguing the PD of late.          "I can feel I am the target of strong attacks as general chairman of the Democrat Party," Anas Urbaningrum said when addressing the National Coordination Meeting of the PD at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC), West Java,  recently.          The corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is investigating the case of alleged corruption in the construction of a SEA Games athlete house in Palembang (South Sumatra) and has named Nazaruddin as one of its suspects.          According to Fitriadi Muslim of the Financial Transactions Report Center (PPATK),  the center  had discovered about 109 suspicious financial transactions in the accounts of Nazaruddin. Of the 109 transactions, a number of transfers went to several accounts belonging to individuals and certain companies.          Now that Nazaruddin has reportedly been arrested overseas, many quarters hope that Nazaruddin will  be protected so that he can reveal all the information he has.          Setara Institute Chairman Hendardi said the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPKS) and police must provide protection for   Muhammad Nazaruddin when he arrived in Indonesia.          "Nazaruddin should be returned to Indonesia soon and be processed based on the law, the Setara Institute said. He needed protection because he had mentioned a number of PD's leaders and government officials who he alleged also had links with alleged corruption case in the construction of a SEA Games athlete house in Palembang, South Sumatra.          He expressed hope that the examinations of Nazaruddin would be carried out transparently so that there would be no intervention from other related parties mentioned by him to have been implicated.          Constitutional Court Chairman Mahfud MD shared the opinion of Hendardi, saying that the LPKS should give protection to Nazaruddin so that he could reveal the information he has so far.         "I hope the LPKS will provide protection for the former Democrat Party treasurer after he  arrives in Indonesia. We have to be fair," Mahfud said during a fast-breaking function here on Monday.          He said the problem that implicated Nazaruddin, and the people he had accused of being implicated, should be settled based on the law.  "Everything must be made clear and he (Nazaruddin) should be protected from possible terror because there should be reason whatsoever for him to be afraid to speak out (reveal information on corruption)," the Constitutional Court (MK) chairman said.          Hendardi believes that that the future of PD would experience a serious dynamics  in connection with the arrest of Nazaruddin.          The problem is that Nazaruddin's accusations he made during his hiding overseas --which are believed to be based on facts and are supported by documents-- touched on all main elements  of the PD.          Nazaruddin fled to Singapore a day before the Corruption Eradication Commission asked the ministry of justice and human rights to issue a travel ban for him on May 24.          He had been to several countries before he was caught in Cartagena,  the head of the National Police's public relations division, Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam, said.         The former PD treasurer  was caught with his wife and several other people at 2 am local time in Cartagena, Colombia, on Monday, police said.***3*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/00:25/a014) 09-08-2011 00:31:2