"Since morning, a search has been carried out at the ministry of religious affairs and one of the rooms being searched is that of the director general of hajj and umrah (minor hajj)," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said.
The director general of hajj and umrah, Anggito Abimanyu, was questioned by KPK on March 19, 2014.
The KPK named religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali as a suspect in a corruption case linked to the management of hajj pilgrimage in 2012-13.
In connection with that, Suryadharma has been banned from traveling abroad for a six months as of May 22.
The total budget for the hajj pilgrimage program in 2012-13 was more than Rp1 trillion for the cost of hajj rituals, including accommodation, transportation and others.
KPK had also questioned Jazuli Juwaini, former chairman of the House of Representatives Commission VIII from the Prosperous Justice Party and Hasrul Azwar, a Commission VIII member from the United Development Party.
Suryadharma Ali was last questioned on May 6, when he confessed that the budget was set based on the results of discussion with parliament members.
"The hajj funds are set through the parliament (DPR). So, how much it is has been discussed with DPR," he said on May 5.
He said the funds also were always audited by the Supreme Audit Board, and they were then presented to DPR.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
