Jakarta (ANTARA) - Religion Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin again faced the Corruption Eradication Commission's (KPK's) examination over investigation into a bribery case centering on the job selection process for the position at the Religion Ministry for 2018-2019.

Investigators of the KPK questioned Minister Saifuddin as a witness for some suspects and a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) for the 2014-2019 period identified by the initials as RMY.

"Today, Minister of Religion Lukman Hakim Saifuddin is scheduled to be examined as a witness for RMY and suspects in connection with corruption in the form of bribery for the selection of the Ministry of Religion's position for 2018-2019," KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah stated on Thursday.

Earlier, the religion minister had also been questioned by the anti-graft agency on Wednesday (May 8) as a witness for suspects and RMY during which it was confirmed that Saifuddin had received Rp10 million from Haris Hasanuddin as compensation for his election as head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religion of East Java Province.

Secondly, the KPK confirmed Saifuddin's involvement in connection with the money found in the desk drawer during a search conducted in the relevant office.

Furthermore, the investigators also confirmed Saifuddin's statement about his authority regarding the high office selection process at the Ministry of Religion.

Finally, the investigators also probed to get further information on whether any form of communication or meeting took place between the witnesses and RMY.

In addition to the investigation into a bribery case pertaining to the job selection process at the Ministry of Religion, the KPK also interrogated the religion minister on Wednesday (May 22) to investigate the implementation process of the Hajj.

"Hence, it is not an investigation that is related to filling positions but a separate probe concerning the Hajj implementation process. The Hajj case will certainly be investigated when the religion minister, who is a witness today, is still in office," Diansyah stated at the KPK building, Jakarta, Wednesday (May 22).



Translator: Eliswan Azly
Editor: Suharto
Copyright © ANTARA 2019