Former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali is facing rough days ahead as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) probes more corruption allegations against him
ormer religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali is facing rough days ahead as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) probes more corruption allegations against him.
After earlier accusing him of flying dozens of people to Saudi Arabia for free, the commission claimed on Wednesday that Suryadharma committed additional offenses in the haj graft case, which caused more than Rp 1 trillion in state losses.
KPK spokesman Johan Budi said that the antigraft body had collected enough evidence to prove that the graft suspect, who still serves as United Development Party (PPP) chairman and has refused to give up his party chairmanship post despite strong internal resistance, also had a hand in the procurement of various goods and services during the 2012-2013 haj program.
'We are currently intensifying our investigation into him. We are now focusing on the procurement of pilgrims' transportation, housing and catering in Saudi Arabia,' Johan told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
Johan further said that the KPK had started looking into Suryadharma's involvement in the ministry's handling of the haj fund.
The haj fund has increased annually as more Indonesian Muslims have shown interest in performing the haj in Saudi Arabia. Each pilgrim is required to pay Rp 25 million to be placed on the haj waiting list. There are about 2 million names on the list. The ministry is currently managing around Rp 70 trillion in pilgrims' funds in its bank account.
Johan said that the KPK had also sensed that Suryadharma might have also committed graft with regard to discussion of the haj budget proposed by the ministry.
'In addition to the haj fund, we are also currently closely investigating his roles in the haj budgeting process [at the House of Representatives]. We are currently collecting testimonies from witnesses to build our case against him. The completion of his dossier is far from over though as we are working hard to collect evidence to prove all the allegations,' Johan said.
The KPK has slapped a number of lawmakers from various political parties with travel bans in the case, including Suryadharma's wife Wardatul Asriah, who was sworn in as a House lawmaker representing the PPP.
The commission declared Suryaharma a graft suspect on May 22 in the haj graft case, but the antigraft body has yet to detain him. The KPK usually detains a graft suspect after it has completed 70 percent of his or her dossier.
'It will take time to complete Suryadharma's dossier as we are collecting evidence not only in Indonesia but also in Saudi Arabia. KPK Investigators have to fly to Saudi Arabia to conduct interviews and collect more evidence,' KPK deputy chairman Adnan Pandu Praja said earlier.
Another KPK commissioner, Bambang Widjojanto, concurred with Pandu, saying that more work had to be done to complete Suryadharma's dossiers.
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