Ezra Sihite – The brother of high-profile graft suspect Muhammad Nazaruddin has offered a variety of excuses after his late-night visit to the suspect's jail cell earlier this week was revealed by the deputy justice minister on Thursday.
Muhammad Nasir, Nazaruddin's older brother and a member of House of Representatives Commission III, said on Friday that the visit at 11 p.m. on Wednesday was part of his duty as a legislator. "It's my obligation as a member of Commission III," he said. He did not elaborate on how the visit related to his job.
House Commission III, of which Nazaruddin was also a member before being arrested and put on trial for bid-rigging, oversees legal affairs. Asked why he had scheduled a work-related visit for so late at night, Nasir then said that it was simply a family visit. "It's no biggie," he said. "I just wanted to see my brother."
He soon changed tack again, saying he had gone to Cipinang Penitentiary out of concern for Nazaruddin's health. "He was sick the other day, and he was concerned about having to be put on a drip, so I went to see how he was," said Nasir, who had previously been reported as the suspect's cousin.
He admitted that he had used his position as a House member to finagle the late-night visit, and insisted this was normal conduct for legislators.
The visit was discovered during a spot inspection by Justice and Human Rights Ministry officials. They also found two lawyers, Djufri Taufik and Arief Rachman, in Nazaruddin's cell.
Denny Indrayana, the deputy justice minister, said on Thursday he doubted their claim that they were visiting Nazaruddin because he was sick. "At such a late hour, when would Nazaruddin have rested?" he said. Visiting hours are from 10 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Denny refused to blame prison officials for allowing the late visit, saying it was likely they had been pressured by the visitors. "We don't think they can be blamed because Nazaruddin's family and friends often threaten them," he said.
Nazaruddin, the former Democratic Party treasurer, is being held at Cipinang pending his ongoing trial in a graft case surrounding the construction of the Southeast Asian Games athletes' village in Palembang.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which revealed on Thursday that it was building holding cells in its office, said on Friday there were no plans yet to transfer Nazaruddin there. The cells are expected to be ready by March.