Chairman of Yudhoyono's Democratic Party Named Suspect in Corruption Case
Although it has been in the air for a while, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finally named Anas Urbaningrum, chairman of president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democratic Party (PD), a suspect in the Hambalang corruption case. This case, in which Anas is charged with accepting a bribe to ensure a contract, is the last in a series of blows to the Democratic Party, which has seen its popularity erode drastically in recent months.
The roots of the Hambalang case date back to early 2011, when the treasurer of the Democratic Party (Muhammad Nazaruddin) was accused of taking bribes in order to award company Duta Graha Indah a contract to construct an athletes’ village for the 2011 SEA Games in Palembang (Sumatra). He subsequently fled the country and while being abroad accused fellow Democrats members Anas and parliament member Angelina Sondakh as corrupt in connection to the Hambalang sports center in Bogor (West Java). According to Nazaruddin, both had taken bribes to secure a contract for state-controlled company Adhie Karya. Sondakh was convicted to 4.5 years in jail, while Anas will now be facing legal actions.