The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named former health minister Siti Fadilah Supari on Friday as a graft suspect in relation to the procurement of reserve medical equipment for use in extraordinary circumstances in 2005.

KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto said that a letter authorizing a full investigation, a '€œsprindik'€, for Siti had been signed by the KPK commissioners.

'€œAs far as I know,  the sprindik for Siti has been signed,'€ said Bambang as quoted by kompas.com. Asked about the charges, Bambang said he did not know the details but the KPK'€™s spokesman would release further information at a later date.

In March the KPK announced that it had taken over the investigation of the graft case implicating Siti from the National Police. The police had accused Siti of abusing her budgetary power during her 2004-2009 tenure as minister in a botched Health Ministry procurement in 2005 worth Rp 15.5 billion (US$1.3 million).

Bambang added that the KPK would repeat the investigation process conducted by the police and the National Police'€™s investigation results would be used as reference.

'€œWe will repeat the process, as we have decided our own articles [under which to press charges], but the police's investigation can be used as reference,'€ he said.

He said that it would be easier for the KPK to investigate the graft case as the KPK had previously handled other graft cases in the Health Ministry implicating Siti'€™s subordinates.

'€œAfter the takeover, it will be easier because we have sufficient evidence and information,'€ he added.  (idb)