Anita Rachman, Ulma Haryanto & Vento Saudale – Threats and counter-threats, or at least fears or reports of them, flew back and forth on Monday as the already convoluted scandal surrounding Muhammad Nazaruddin became even more entangled.

As the jailed politician was reportedly refusing to eat the food served to him at the Mobile Brigade (Brimob) detention facility in Depok for fear of poisoning, reports emerged that Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) officials had been receiving death threats since the scandal began.

Muhammad Nasir, a Democrat lawmaker, appealed to the House of Representatives to provide protection for his cousin, Nazaruddin. The plea was made when Nasir and O.C. Kaligis, Nazaruddin's lawyer, met with House Speaker Marzuki Alie, deputy speakers Anis Matta and Pramono Anung, and Fahri Hamzah and Azis Syamsuddin, from House Commission III, which oversees legal affairs.

Nasir said Nazaruddin was refusing food, unless it came with a note from Nasir saying he had sent it. Kaligis said Nazaruddin "is afraid he is going to be poisoned."

Speaking on behalf of Nazaruddin's family, Nasir begged the House leaders "to bring about justice for Nazaruddin. He is still a suspect, don't treat him as if he's guilty". "He fled because he was afraid," he said. "Please treat him humanely."

Kaligis also handed the lawmakers a copy of a letter addressed to the Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) requesting that the institution provide Nazaruddin protection.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Nazaruddin did not have to worry about being poisoned because "his safety is guaranteed by the National Police chief and the president."

He said security measures put in place at the detention center included CCTV monitoring. "We will add more CCTVs around his cell and also two KPK officers to monitor the cell," he said. "The CCTVs are not only to monitor him, but also to monitor Nazaruddin guests so that any suspicious behavior can be seen."

Marzuki said that when President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono talked about ensuring Nazaruddin's safety, "it's not only physical safety, but also mental health."

Meanwhile, Abdullah Hehamahua, the chairman of the KPK's ethics committee, said there were taped telephone conversations that included a plan to murder a number of commissioners. "Yes there [is a recorded conversation], we listened to it on the first day this committee was established," he said.

The committee was formed at the end of July after Nazaruddin made allegations of improper conduct by several KPK officials, including deputy chairmen Chandra M. Hamzah and Mohammad Jasin, KPK's deputy director of prosecution, Ade Rahardja, and Johan.

Abdullah said the recording was almost inaudible, but the conversation mentioned Chandra and Ade and was related to an ongoing graft investigation involving Nazaruddin.

Committee member and deputy chairman Bibit Samad Rianto declined to give details on the recording, saying it was still under investigation. But an internal KPK source said that voices in the recording included Nazaruddin's and that of a person identified as Albert. "[Nazaruddin] wanted to pay billions to have Chandra killed," the source said.

Nuril Anwar, who used to work for Nazaruddin in the House, told the Jakarta Globe last week that his former boss liked to throw threats around when feeling under pressure, but added that they were usually only bluffs.

Speaking after members of Commission III visited Nazruddin in his detention cell on Monday, Ahmad Yani, from the United Development Party (PPP), said the suspect only communicated with Kaligis. "He was quiet and appeared tired," he added. No Democrats were seen among the group.