"Nazaruddin obtained permission from the DPR faction leader. He had duly asked for prior permission," Ruhut said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Nazaruddin obtained permission from the leader of the Democratic Party (PD) faction in the House of Representatives (DPR) before flying off to Singapore, PD legislator Ruhut Sitompul said.
"Nazaruddin obtained permission from the DPR faction leader. He had duly asked for prior permission," Ruhut said when contacted through his cellular phone here on Friday.
He said that Nazaruddin left for Singapore for medical treatment purposes and before he left he had submitted a letter of request to the chairman of the Democrat Party faction in the House.
On the occasion, Ruhut also regretted the statement of a PD elite as if Nazaruddin had fled to Singapore.
Law and Human Rights Minister Patrialis Akbar Thursday night confirmed that Democrat Party (PD) cadre M Nazaruddin had flown out to Singapore one day before the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) clamped an overseas travel ban on him.
"Nazaruddin went to Singapore on May 23, 2011," the minister said at the presidential palace here on Thursday night.
According to the minister, Nazaruddin left for Singapore at 19.30 pm Western Indonesia Time (WIB) aboard a Garuda Indonesia airplane.
PD politician Andi Mallarangeng also confirmed the law minister`s statement.
"The meeting last night was an internal meeting of the organization where the chief patron, Yudhoyono, gave his directives asking cadres to remain solid and strong," Andi said at presidential office.
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 PD`s Ethics Council fired Nazaruddin as the general treasurer of the ruling party on Monday, two days after the Constitutional Court (MK) chairman, Mahfud MD, reported to Yudhoyono that Nazaruddin had tried to give the MK gratification money amounting to S$120 thousand in September 2010.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
