Camelia Pasandaran, Markus Junianto Sihaloho & Ulma Haryanto – A key witness might have retracted her allegations against Democratic Party members in relation to the Southeast Asian Games corruption scandal, but investigations into the two figures are set to continue.

Mindo Rosalina Manulang on Thursday formally withdrew her claim that Muhammad Nazaruddin, the Democratic treasurer, had taken a hefty cut of the contract to build the SEA Games athletes' village in Palembang.

She had alleged that Nazaruddin took Rp 25 billion ($2.9 million) for mediating between the government and the winning contractor, and that Democratic legislator Angelina Sondakh took a 13 percent cut to provide kickbacks for her colleagues at the House of Representatives Commission X, which oversees sports and youth affairs.

Rosalina, who has been named a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), claimed the allegations were made under the instruction of her former lawyer, Kamaruddin Simanjuntak.

Kamaruddin on Thursday denied Rosalina's claims, and countered that his former client was out to protect certain parties. Rosalina's new lawyer, Djufri Taufik, rejected such suggestions. "We are not [protecting Nazaruddin], that is a fact."

Syarief Hasan, a Democrat and the minister of cooperatives and small and medium enterprises, said initial results from the party's internal investigations showed the two officials were innocent, but another party member said the scrutiny would continue.

"There is no strong evidence of involvement of the two people," Syarief said. "But we should wait for the results of the KPK's investigations."

The party has established a special team to look into the case, consisting mostly of Nazaruddin's fellow members of House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs, such as Benny K. Harman, Ruhut Sitompul, Didi Irawadi Syamsuddin and Edi Ramli Sitanggang.

A member of the Demoratic Party's Honorary Council, E.E. Mangindaan, said Nazaruddin had been questioned by the team three days ago and the treasurer had denied all accusations. However, the internal investigation would continue, he said.

"If the KPK finds proof of the allegation, there's a big possibility we will dismiss him from his position," Mangindaan said.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Wednesday said that he would not protect his party members if they were guilty, but requested a proper investigation by law-enforcement officials including the KPK.

But Chandra M. Hamzah, KPK deputy chairman, said no Democratic politicians would be called as yet. "When we summon someone, it means that we already have specific purposes and questions for that person," Chandra said. "We will summon them, regardless of who they are, if we need them for investigation."

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Council said it also planned to summon Nazaruddin over his role in the case. "The case is attracting a huge amount of public attention, almost all media outlets are covering the story," said Nudirman Munir, the deputy chairman of the council. "This is the main reason we will summon him, so we can investigate whether it's true or not."

Besides, he added, the council already planned to question Nazaruddin over two other issues. The first is his alleged rape of a female sales clerk at a hotel in Bandung during the party's national congress, and the second relates to a troubled coal procurement project.