Nazaruddin's dismissal has been approved by SBY

Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Ramadhan Pohan says the official letter to expel its former treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin, who is now a graft fugitive, has been approved by the party’s chairman and its chief of patron President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

“The letter to dismiss him has been made. It has been signed and approved by the patron chief,” Ramadhan said Monday as quoted by tempointeraktif.com.

Nazaruddin was expelled following some cases implicating the businessman-cum-politician. He was allegedly involved in a graft case surrounding the development project of athletes’ compound for the upcoming SEA Games XXVI in Palembang, South Sumatra.

Nazaruddin reportedly left Indonesia to dodge the investigation.

In May, the Democratic Party's ethics council dismissed Nazaruddin from his post as party treasurer, because of his alleged involvement in graft.

Ramadhan said his party decided to expel him because Nazaruddin was considered to have crossed the line. “We are quite disappointed with Nazar, who threw many baseless allegations toward members of the party”.

“If we let him, he will burn not only the Democratic Party but also others,” said Ramadhan.

He added that with the dismissal of Nazaruddin, the party was expected to regain its image as a polite, smart and clean party.