In the suit, we clearly stated that the KPK and other relevant agencies must respect the court proceeding."
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Ex-religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali, who has filed a pretrial suit against being named a suspect in an inappropriate Hajj fund management case, will likely dishonor summons from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for interrogation.

"In our statement that we have just read out, it is obvious that we have urged the KPK to respect the ongoing court proceedings at the South Jakarta district court," Suryadharma Alis lawyer Humphrey R. Djemat noted here on Monday.

Djemat was responding to a journalists question regarding whether his client would fulfill the KPK summons for another round of questioning after his team of lawyers filed a pretrial suit with the court earlier in the day.

"In the suit, we clearly stated that the KPK and other relevant agencies must respect the court proceeding. It is up to you to interpret it," he said.

The former religious affairs minister filed a pretrial suit at the court challenging the KPKs decision to name him a suspect in an alleged graft case linked to the management of Hajj funds in 2012-2013.

According to Djemat, a team of lawyers filed the suit citing insufficient preliminary evidence to suggest his clients role as a suspect.

The team of lawyers has also found abnormalities in the state loss estimates said to be caused by the alleged graft case involving Suryadharma Ali, he added.

Djemat remarked that the naming of Suryadharma Ali as a suspect in the alleged graft case was illegitimate as it was done arbitrarily and unlawfully and was politically motivated.

The team of lawyers stated that the KPK had named Suryadharma Ali as a suspect before questioning witnesses and gathering evidence, he noted.

The alleged graft case involves the misappropriation of budget funds, including Hajj pilgrimage cost, accommodation, and transportation fees in Saudi Arabia. The case is believed to have inflicted losses worth Rp1 trillion to the nation

(Reported by Aditya Ramadhan/Uu.INE/KR-BSR/B003)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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