The arrest was made by Interpol which had succeeded in locating him in Cartagena, Columbia, the minister said.
During his travels abroad, Nazarudin used a false passport in which his name was M Syahruddin and now he was being detained in the Columbian capital, Bogota.
Nazarudin was arrested while trying to leave Columbia. His arrest was the result of the joint efforts of the Indonesian Police, Interpol, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) and the law and human rights ministry.
He is expected to be brought home to Indonesia from Bogoto as soon as possible to be questioned over his alleged involvement in on a bribery case liked to a Sea Games athletes village project in Palembang, South Sumatra.
"According to the information given to me, Nazaruddin was arrested while trying to exit Colombia," Djoko said at the presidential office here Monday.
At one point during his two-and-a-half month flight abroad, Nazarudin conducted a Skype teleconference with an Indonesian journalist and the footage was aired by many national television stations.
In the stunning Skype conversation, Nazaruddin mentioned the names of other people he claimed were also involved in the bribery case.
Indonesian ambassador to Colombia, Michael Manufandu was reported to have already met Nazaruddin and had been asked TO accompany the suspect, said Djoko.
There was no deadline for Nazaruddin`s repatriation but he was expected to be brough back home as soon as possible so his case can be processed further by the Indonesian anti-graft body (KPK).
Nazarudin left Indonesia for Singapore on May 23, 2011 or one day before an overseas travel ban was clamped on him. The KPK officially named him a suspect in the bribery case while he was believed to be traveling from one country to another in Southeast Asia.
From his overseas hideout , Nazaruddin named a number of other `players` in the bribery case, including Democrat Party chairman Annas Urbaningrum, who , however, promptly issued a strong denial.
(A050/F001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
