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Storm clouds gather over Suryadharma
Resigned: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) receives Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday
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Resigned: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) receives Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday. Suryadharma quit after being declared a suspect in relation to the misuse of funds earmarked for Muslims going to Mecca on the haj pilgrimage. (Afp/Presidensby.Info) (right) receives Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday. Suryadharma quit after being declared a suspect in relation to the misuse of funds earmarked for Muslims going to Mecca on the haj pilgrimage. (Afp/Presidensby.Info)
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span class="inline inline-none">Resigned: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (right) receives Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali at the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java, on Monday. Suryadharma quit after being declared a suspect in relation to the misuse of funds earmarked for Muslims going to Mecca on the haj pilgrimage. (Afp/Presidensby.Info)
Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, who tendered his resignation to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Monday following graft charges, is likely to be charged with money laundering after the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) confirmed that records of his financial transaction carried irregularities.
According to the PPATK, if the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) finds the transactions do not match Suryadharma's profile as a state official, the antigraft body could charge him with money laundering.
'Every record of financial transaction handed to the KPK contains an indication of money laundering and we have sent reports of his financial transaction analysis to the KPK,' PPATK deputy chairman Agus Santoso said on Monday.
Agus declined to give details on whether the dubious transactions in Suryadharma's records were related to the alleged embezzlement of haj funds being investigated by the KPK, simply saying that the total amount involved in the transactions was 'substantial'.
Suryadharma, also chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), has been accused of committing malfeasance, enriching himself and others, as well as corporate enrichment in relation to alleged irregularities during the 2012-2013 haj program worth Rp 1 trillion (US$86 million).
The KPK earlier said its investigation focused on three areas: the procurement of goods and services in the haj pilgrimage program during 2012-2013, the management of the haj pilgrimage fund during 2012-2013 and the provision of haj facilities to individuals who were not entitled to them.
Suryadharma allegedly flew dozens of people, reportedly including his relatives, colleagues from the ministry and members of the House of Representatives whose names were falsely registered as Indonesian Haj Organizing Committee (PPHI) representatives, to join him on a haj pilgrimage using state funds.
The PPATK investigation into the haj program during the period of 2004-2012 found dubious transactions worth a total of Rp 230 billion that the agency considered 'unnecessary'. The total haj fund managed by the ministry during the period was Rp 80 trillion, with Rp 2.3 trillion in interest per year.
Suryadharma, who resigned from his position on Monday, said he had made a 'voluntary' decision.
He tendered his resignation to Yudhoyono on Monday after reports circulated that the President would dismiss him.
'The President did not fire me, but I appealed to him to accept my resignation. My legal status will probably compromise the work of the government, so I think it is important for me to return the mandate to the President,' said Suryadharma, who until late last week insisted that he intended to retain control of the ministry 'to ensure that this year's haj runs smoothly'.
State Secretary Sudi Silalahi said on Monday that Suryadharma had maintained his innocence in the graft case during his meeting with Yudhoyono.
'After receiving the proposal, the President will make a decision,' Sudi said, adding that during the meeting Suryadharma also handed over official reports on the haj program that 'indicated good progress'.
Religious Affairs Ministry spokesman Zubaidi said Suryadharma remained in charge of the ministry pending Yudhyono's decision to officially dismiss him from his ministerial post.
'As to who will replace Pak Suryadharma, the decision is completely in the hands of the President,' Zubaidi said on Tuesday, responding to a query on whether Deputy Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar would serve as an interim minister.
Nasaruddin is also ensnared in a graft case surrounding the procurement of Korans worth Rp 75 billion in 2011 and 2012.
Graft convict and former director of sharia guidance at the directorate general for Islamic guidance at the ministry, Ahmad Jauhari, said Nasaruddin was involved in the case.
The KPK summoned Nasaruddin, who remains a witness in the Koran graft case, in August 2012, during which he said that Suryadharma should be held accountable for the case.
