KPK begins probe on Suryadharma

JAKARTA.The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) kicked off on Monday its probe into former religious affairs minister Suryadharma’s role in its haj program case.

KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha said that investigators had begun questioning witnesses.

Some of those questioned on Monday included Religious Affairs Ministry secretary Abdul Wadud Kasyful Anwar, former head of the ministry’s administration division Saefudin Syafi’i and current head of the division Amir Ja’far.

“They were all questioned as witnesses for SDA,” Priharsa said, referring to Suryadharma by his initials.

The antigraft body has named Suryadharma a suspect for 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).

Suryadharma was also alleged to have flown dozens of people — reportedly his relatives, his 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 haj using state funds.