Tanjung Pasir, Tangerang (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said he will announce Indonesia`s Youth and Sports Minister soon.

The new minister will replace Indonesia`s former minister, Andi Malaranggeng, who had resigned after his alleged involvement in a corruption case.

"The new minister will be a member of the Democrat Party. The former minister was also from the Democrat Party," said the president, who is also the Chairman of the Democrat Party`s Advisory Council.

Even since the former Youth and Sports Minister, Andi Malaranggeng, had been accused of being involved in a corruption case, the ministry has been in the limelight. The former minister had been accused of being involved in a corruption case, pertaining to the procurement of products and services for the development of the Hambalang sports centre in the Bogor district of West Java.

According to an audit conducted by the Supreme Audit Agency (BPK), the development cost of the Hambalang sports centre had increased significantly all of a sudden, resulting in state losses of Rp246.6 billion.

The anti-graft body announced on December 6, 2012, that it had banned Andi from travelling overseas, since investigations were being carried out with regard to the Hambalang sports centre corruption case.

However, the anti-graft body said it will not arrest Andi until investigations are over. "A person cannot be arrested until the process of questioning witnesses and suspects is completed," said the Chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission, Abraham Samad.

Currently, the Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare, Agung Laksono, has been appointed Indonesia's acting Youth and Sports Minister.

(P008/A051/KR-BSR/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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