Ina Parlina, Jakarta – The wife of former Democratic Party treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, Neneng Sri Wahyuni, who is a fugitive from the law, was arrested at her home in Pejaten, South Jakarta, on Wednesday.
Neneng fled the country last year to avoid prosecution. Along with Nazaruddin, Neneng ran dozens of companies under a holding firm called Permai Group, also known as Anugrah Nusantara, which they allegedly used as proxies to win government projects that were later subcontracted to bigger companies in exchange for fees.
In August last year, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named Neneng a suspect for her role as executive of PT Alfindo Nuratama Perkasa, a subsidiary of the firm that won a bid to carry out a 2008 solar power equipment project at the Manpower and Transmigration Ministry.
Neneng flew from Kuala Lumpur and arrived at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, Banten, at around 11:30 a.m. Neneng stayed overnight in Batam, Riau, according to KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto.
"We arrested her in her residence in Pejaten, South Jakarta, at 3:30 p.m. after we failed to arrest her at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport," Bambang told a press conference on Wednesday evening. Neneng made no effort to resist arrest, he said.
KPK investigators also detained two Malaysian nationals, Razmi bin Muhammad Yusof and Hasan bin Kushi, who allegedly helped Neneng escape.
The two Malaysian nationals arrived at the airport aboard the same flight as Neneng. "We believed the two Malaysian men played important roles in helping Neneng while she was on the run," Bambang said. "One of the men is allegedly an advisor to the Malaysian Kingdom."
The two men were identified as Hasan bin Kushi and Azmi bin Muhamad Yusof. One suspect was arrested in Hotel Oasis Amir in Central Jakarta, while the other was arrested on his way to Cipinang penitentiary. The suspect was planning to visit Nazarudddin. The two suspects arrived at KPK headquarters in Kuningan at around 6 p.m. to face interrogation.
Another KPK deputy chairman Busyro Muqoddas, who stated on Tuesday night that KPK investigators had lost track of Neneng, said that his office had "received information that the two men might be Malaysian intelligence officers."
Both Bambang and Busyro declined to give more details about the roles of the two men, saying that KPK investigators were still on the case.
KPK investigators also detained a female suspect who accompanied Neneng during her flight. Investigators are looking into her role in assisting Neneng.
Nazaruddin and Neneng both fled the country in May last year to avoid investigation in two different graft cases. Nazaruddin was arrested in Cartagena, Colombia, in August 2011.
The last time the KPK heard of Neneng was in April, when her lawyers negotiated terms for her arrest. The KPK then suspected that Neneng was likely hiding in Malaysia.
Bambang confirmed that his office had received a letter about the terms of the arrest, but he stated that the KPK declined the request. He also dismissed a claim made by Nazaruddin's lawyers, stating that Neneng was not arrested and had turned herself in instead. He said that Neneng herself had yet to appoint any lawyer to represent her.
Neneng and Nazaruddin's companies were implicated in at least five dubious procurement projects. Some of the cases are still the subjects of KPK preliminary inquiries.