Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned House of Representatives' budget committee member Angelina Sondakh on Thursday over the distribution of alleged bribe money to lawmakers for a SEA Games construction project.

The Democratic Party politician was grilled for eight hours as a member of House Commission X overseeing sports, culture and education, which approved Rp 191 billion (US$22.15 million) budget spending for the sporting event's athletes village construction project in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Angelina testified for former lawmaker and party colleague Muhammad Nazaruddin, who is charged with doctoring the project through his company PT Anak Negeri.

"We questioned Angelina as a witness in the bribery case," the KPK's spokesman Johan Budi said. He said it was still too soon to determine her involvement in the project or to name her a suspect.

Ousted from his post as party treasurer, Nazaruddin fled abroad while accusing Angelina and two members of the House's budget committee, Mirwan Amir and I Wayan Koster, of accepting bribes.

He also accused Democratic Party chair, Anas Urbaningrum, of accepting part of the bribe money for himself and the party.

Trial sessions for other suspects in the case have revealed that Nazaruddin and lawmakers from several parties had accepted varying amounts from the project's funds.

Angelina declined to tell the public whether or not she was involved in the case, after her questioning. "Just ask the KPK [investigators]; I have explained everything to them."

The KPK has found indications that the budget committee was involved in the bribery case. "The role of the House budget committee [in the case] is actually ideal, normal and strategic," KPK chairman Busyro Muqoddas said.

The budget committee has the final authorization over all state budget allocations at the House, after programs have been approved by the commissions.

Busyro said the KPK is also investigating other graft cases in state projects to find out whether the committee might be involved in them.

The scandal surfaced after the KPK arrested youth and sports affairs ministry official Wafid Muharram for accepting Rp 3.2 billion in bribes for the project from project contractor PT Duta Graha Indah (DGI).

DGI's marketing manager Muhammad El Idris allegedly paid the bribe under the instruction of Mindo Rosalina "Rosa" Manulang, a confidante of Nazaruddin.

Angelina's name first came to light when Rosa accused her of playing an important role in the bribery, as part of her testimony to the KPK in a trial session.

Rosa told the judges that Nazaruddin ordered her to contact Angelina. "Pak Nazaruddin told me to contact 'the actress' because she seemed to need money," she said.

Another witness, Yulianis, a financial director with Nazaruddin's Permai Group, who testified against Rosa, told another court session that Angelina, as well as Koster, were indeed involved in the bribery scheme.

She said Rosa asked that money be withdrawn from the Permai Group to pay Angelina and Koster in order to secure the group's winning of the athletes' village construction project.