With the charges Nazaruddin is facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Former Democrat Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin was arraigned in the Corruption Court here Wednesday on charges of receiving a bribe related to a Sea Games building project in Palembang, South Sumatra.

The public prosecutor from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) accused the close friend of Democrat Party Chief Anas Urbaningrum of receiving Rp4.6 billion (around US$5 million) from marketing manager of PT Duta Graha Indah M El Idris in the first session of his trial.

The bribe, according to the prosecutor, was given to him as a success fee for helping PT DGI win a contract for the construction of a 2011 SEA Games athletes village in Jakabaring, Palembang, South Sumatra, with Rp191 billion in state budget funds.

The prosecutor said the act ran against the authority of the defendant as a parliament member.

In the indictment the prosecutor also stated that early in 2010 the defendant introduced Mindo Rosalina Manulang alias Rosa as a marketing director of PT Anak Negeri belonging to him to member of the House of Representatives (DPR) from the Democrat Party, Angelina Sondakh so that Angelina Sondakh could facilitate her to win the project of the ministry of sports and youth affairs.

The success fee received by Nazaruddin which the prosecutor considered a bribe was given in the form of a cheque through a finance staff member of Permai Group namely Yulianis and Oktarina Furi.

Because of his action the prosecutor accused Nazaruddin, also a former member of DPR Commission III of violating Article 12 b of Corruption Law, Article 5 paragraph 2 or Article 5 paragraph 1b of the corruption law.

With the charges Nazaruddin is facing a maximum penalty of 20 years in jail.

Nazaruddin shocked the public after he accused several party leaders of being involved in his case from his hiding place abroad. He left abroad a day before the KPK asked for his ban to travel abroad. He was finally caught in Colombia.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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