Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Sports and Youth Affairs Minister Andi Mallarangeng said he was ready to be confronted with M Nazaruddin, former Democrat Party (DP) treasurer, on alleged bribery related to an athlete dormitory project in Palembang, South Sumatra.

"I am ready any time," Andi said here on Thursday.

The minister said the most important thing was that Nazaruddin could be brought back to Indonesia so he could give information to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for a thorough investigation.

The investigation should particularly concern cases occurring in the youth and sports ministry, he added.

"So it will be clear who is wrong and who is innocent," he said.

Earlier on Thursday, Chairman of the Democrat Party (PD) Executive Board Anas Urbaningrum also said he was ready to be confronted with Muhammad Nazaruddin.

"Yes, (I am ready)," Anas said in a response to the press question on whether he would be ready to be confronted with Nazaruddin.

Earlier, Chairman of the KPK`s Ethics Committee Abdullah Hehamahua said that his committee would confront M Nazaruddin`s information with Anas Urbaningrum.

Anas said he had not yet received an invitation from KPK regarding the matter.

"Up to now, I have not received any letter, but I am ready to help the KPK`s Ethics Committee if I am invited to give necessary testimony," he said.

Nazaruddin was accused of having accepted bribe money in a project from the government to build an athletes` dormitory for the upcoming SEA Games event in Palembang. He has always denied the corruption allegations.

He fled Indonesia to Singapore on May 23, a day before KPK imposed a travel ban on him.

In his overseas hideouts, Nazaruddin said in a private TV station interview that certain top leaders of the Democrat Party were in fact involved in the corruption deal.

He finally was caught in Cartagena, a small town located over 600 km from Bogota, Colombia, South America, on Sunday (August 7, 2011), by local police who suspected him of using a passport with false name.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011