Former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin will not return to Indonesia because he believes he will be mistreated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

According to Nazaruddin's lawyer, OC Kaligis, his client is still a witness in a graft case related to the construction of the athletes' village for the Southeast Asian Games 2011 in Palembang, South Sumatra in November.

Kaligis accused the KPK of treating witnesses unfairly by denying them the right to be accompanied by lawyers. "This is obviously a violation of the KUHAP (Code of Criminal Procedure)," Kaligis told Suara Pembaruan, on Thursday.

The KPK's practices are the main reason Nazaruddin is reluctant to return to Indonesia and answer the commission's summons.

Kaligis said that Nazaruddin is able to return to Indonesia at any time, as long as the KPK guarantees that they will question Nazaruddin according to law, which gives Nazaruddin, as a witness, the right to be accompanied by a lawyer and witnesses for his defense.

"The KPK should not be reckless in questioning witnesses because all this time they have acted as if they're a superbody," Kaligis said.

He added that Nazaruddin had appointed two attorney's offices, Kaligis himself and another from Singapore. As a result, Kaligis continued, he is always in contact with the law firm in Singapore regarding his client's case.

Kaligis also criticized the KPK for aggressively pursuing Nazaruddin, who is still only a witness, while there are many who have been convicted of corruption still 'lounging around' in Singapore.