Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Victim and Witness Protection Institute (LPSK) plans to form a team in response to calls for the protection of corruption suspect Nazaruddin following his arrest in Cartagena, Colombia, on Sunday.

LPSK chief Abdul Haris Semendawai said here on Tuesday he would set up a special team to deal with Nazaruddin`s protection.

"The special team will conduct coordination with the parties concerned especially law enforcers handling Nazaruddin`s case," he said.

With regard to the suspect`s arrest in connection with his involvement in the corruption case linked to the SEA Games Athlete Building project and bird flu vaccine plant equipment procurement in 2008 he said in a press statement that a lot of calls and requests had come from a number of community leaders for LPSK to give protection to Nazaruddin.

The police have earlier said that they would protect Nazaruddin until he returns to the country.

"A joint team has been sent by the police to protect him (Nazaruddin). So it would be done as tightly as possible to assure he is safe and sound and no one will touch him," the National Police`s head of public relations division, Inspector General Anton Bachrul Alam, said here on Tuesday.

He said the police have an obligation and responsibility to take Nazaruddin home safely. "Nazaruddin`s children meanwhile are in Kuala Lumpur with his relatives," he said.
(T.R021/H-YH/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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