"I think I will take a decision on Monday. It will be a correct step," the President informed Indonesian journalists during a press conference before returning home from Manila, the Philippines, on Saturday morning.
The President reiterated that the right step needs to be taken, so that SDA can concentrate on his legal case and also to prevent any disruption of duties at the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
"As soon as I arrive home, I will take the most appropriate step so that SDA, on one hand, can concentrate on his legal case, and on the other hand, the Ministry of Religious Affairs can continue to function normally. It is an important ministry. A minister is a top decision and policy maker in his or her ministry who should have the complete trust of the public, so that trust is not betrayed," he pointed out.
The President assured that he will take a clear stance on upholding the law.
"The stance I will take will not change. If there is a state or government official or a political party member who is involved in a corruption case, the law must be upheld," Yudhoyono asserted.
He stated that over the past ten years of his leadership, he never considered it a political intervention when an official of the government or a member of the political party that he was leading became a suspect in a corruption case.
"It is because I respect the law, including the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)," Yudhoyono remarked.
He expressed hope that the law will be upheld in the most fair and logical manner for all to witness.
On Thursday, the KPK named Religious Affairs Minister SDA as a suspect in an alleged corruption case related to Hajj funds collected by the government from Hajj pilgrims in Indonesia.
On May 5, the KPK had questioned SDA in connection with the alleged corrupt handling of Hajj funds collected by the government.
SDA, who is also the chairman of the United Development Party (PPP), considered the KPKs decision to name him as a suspect in the case as a "misunderstanding."
"I always pray that the decision to name me as a suspect will just be a misunderstanding," he stated.
However, the KPK strongly denied that there was clearly no misunderstanding in naming Religious Affairs Minister SDA as a corruption suspect.
Deputy Chairman of KPK Busyro Muqoddas noted that the anti-graft body had gathered sufficient evidence to charge the minister.
"Thank God, there is no misunderstanding. We have a clear understanding about the evidence," Busyro affirmed later in the day.
On Thursday evening, KPK spokesman Johan Budi pointed out that SDA had abused his power in appropriating funds for the Haj pilgrimage in 2012-2013.
KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto noted in a text message on Thursday that SDA was charged with violating two articles in the anti-corruption law.
"He violated Article 2 and Article 3," Bambang added.
According to Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Law Number 30 of 1999 in conjunction with Law Number 20 of 2001, if anyone amasses wealth for himself or others or a corporation against the law to harm the state and the states economy, may be sentenced to life imprisonment or a minimum of four years and a maximum of 20 years in jail and fined a minimum of Rp200 thousand and a maximum of Rp1 billion.
Meanwhile, Article 2 paragraph 2 states that death penalty may be imposed in the case of corruption crimes committed under certain conditions.
As per Article 3 of the law, if anyone seeks to benefit himself or others or a corporation by abusing his power, opportunity, and means bestowed on him due to his position or official status to harm the states finance or economy, may be sentenced to life imprisonment or a minimum of one year and a maximum of 20 years in jail and fined a minimum of Rp50 million and a maximum of Rp1 billion.
(A014/INE)
(A014/R-BSR)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2014
