Filepic of graft suspect Neneng Sri Wahyuni. The two Malaysians that allegedly hid her while she was a fugitive may face 12 years imprisonment. Pix: Antara Photo/Reno EsnirKUALA LUMPUR: Two Malaysians are facing 12 years in an Indonesian prison for their role in hiding high-profile Indonesian graft suspect Neneng Sri Wahyuni.

The duo, Mohammad Hasan Khusi and Azmi Muhammad Yusof, are charged with hampering investigation of a suspect or defendant, the Jakarta Globe reported today.

"The defendants are being charged under Article 21 of the 1999 Law on Anti-Corruption and Article 55 of the Criminal Code," Ahmad Burhanuddin, a prosecutor with the republic’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), was quoted as saying.

Under the Article, those found guilty could be jailed up to 12 years and fined between Rp 150 million to Rp 600 million (RM48,000 – RM190,000).

Both Hasan and Azmi said that they would file defense notes to be read during an upcoming court hearing next Thursday.

"We need a week to draft our defense," Rufinus Hutauruk, the lawyer for the defendants said.

Neneng is the wife of Muhammad Nazaruddin, the former treasurer of the Indonesian Democratic Party. Muhammad Nazaruddin, also a former legislator, was previously arrested in Colombia on graft charges. He was reported to have previously been in hiding in Singapore, Vietnam and Cambodia before fleeing to Colombia.

He was charged in court last August.

Both husband and wife were suspected of being involved a graft scandal involving millions of ringgit from a solar power electric project under Indonesia's Works and Transmigration Ministry.

The case made headlines in Indonesia due to the large amount of money involved. It was also reported that following their implication in the case, Neneng had left her children in Kuala Lumpur and fled with her husband from country to country in a bid to shake off the authorities.

It was reported that the two Malaysian men had met Neneng while she was a fugitive in Malaysia in June 2012. However, the two did not report the matter to the police.

Neneng, in turn, sought the men’s help to return secretly to Indonesia.

On June 12, Hasan and others escorted Neneng and her servant to Indonesia via Batam.

Neneng was captured in her home in South Jakarta two days later, while the men were picked up at separate locations.

- mD

Source: www.thejakartaglobe.com/home/two-malaysians-charged-for-hiding-graft-suspect-neneng/553608