Suryadharma, who is also the former chief of the United Development Party (PPP), expressed doubt whether the KPK had evidence to name him as a suspect in the two cases.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Ex-religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali will soon be taken to court as a defendant for alleged involvement in a corruption case linked to a Hajj pilgrimage program and use of the Ministers Operational Funds (DOM).

"I have been in the detention cell of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for four months, and today, my case has also been declared P21," he stated here on Friday.

P21 means that the investigation documents are complete and ready to be handed over to the public prosecutors for being used to press charges within 14 days before the case is taken to the court.

Although the investigations related to his case have been completed, Suryadharma was of the view that the KPK had arbitrarily named him a suspect.

"I feel the KPK has been arbitrary. It named me as a suspect at the same time with the issuance of the order to investigate (Sprindik). Sprindik was issued on May 22, and on the same date, I was named a suspect. I think the investigation has to be conducted first to find the evidence and only then can a person be named a suspect," he remarked.

Suryadharma, who is also the former chief of the United Development Party (PPP), expressed doubt whether the KPK had evidence to name him as a suspect in the two cases.

"What is the evidence? For 11 months I have been named as a suspect without any evidence. The principal evidence is losses incurred by the state, but for the past 11 months, it has not yet been found," he noted.

The State Audit Board (BPK), as an institution that has the authority to calculate the state losses, has also not done it.

"The BPK has the highest authority to calculate the losses, but has not done it until now and disclosed it to the public, which according to the KPK reaches Rp1.8 trillion. In the case of DOM, what is being violated? No answer. Where is the loss? No answer. So, the accusation is baseless," he pointed out.

In the Hajj pilgrimage case, the KPK alleged that Suryadharma had misused his authority while using the remainder of the Hajj quota and PPIH (Hajj dispatch committee) facility and had also manipulated the procurement of catering services and lodging.

The state losses in the case are estimated to cross over Rp1 trillion during the period between 2012 and 2013.

Suryadharma had allegedly included his family members, persons from outside his family, ministry officials, and even legislators to join the Hajj pilgrimage using the quota set aside for people who have registered for years.

In the case of DOM, the KPK has alleged that some of the funds drawn from the national budget had been used by Suryadharma for his vested interests apart from his duty as the religious affairs minister to inflict losses to the state.

If proven guilty, Suryadharma could be jailed for a maximum of 20 years and fined up to Rp1 billion.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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