Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The former director general of hajj and umrah, Anggito Abimanyu, responded to summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), asking him to give his testimony in a case of alleged corruption related to the 2012-2013 hajj pilgrimage program.

"I just arrived from Yogya," Abimanyu said after reaching the KPK premises on Tuesday (October 7) afternoon.

The KPK had questioned Abimanyu as a witness in the case against former Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali on August 11, August 18 and September 26. The commission had also questioned a private employee, Titin Maryati, and an officer at the religious affairs ministry, Suyatno.

Ali was named by the KPK as a suspect in the alleged case of corruption related to the 2012-2013 hajj pilgrimage and was charged under article 2 paragraph (1) or article 3 of Law No. 31/1999, which was amended by Law No. 20/2001 on corruption eradication, adj. article 55 paragraph (1) and adj. article 65 of the criminal code.

He resigned from his post as the religious affairs minister on May 26 this year, two days before Abimanyu stepped down from the post of the director general of hajj and umrah.

Ali was the second minister to resign from the current cabinet after Andi Mallarangeng put in his papers as sports minister in December 2012, following his alleged involvement in a corruption case.

The alleged graft case against Ali included misappropriation of funds meant for the pilgrims travel expenses, as well as their accommodation and transportation fees in Saudi Arabia.

It is believed that corrupt practices led to the state exchequer incurring losses to the tune of Rp1 trillion.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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