Indonesia’s Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has managed to confiscate Rp180million (US$12,667) and US$30,000 from the office of Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin.
The KPK has charged the United Development Party (PPP) chairman, Romahurmuziy, with bribery relating to the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Monday. The anti-graft body has since searched the minister’s office for proof relating to the case.
“As a part of our procedure, we are confiscating the money and any relevant documents related to the affairs between the Religious Affairs Ministry and the PPP,” KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah told reporters on Tuesday.
The KPK has yet to conclude if there were links between the two and their respective charges, as it is currently in the process of gathering witnesses and verifying a series of evidence. Meanwhile, PPP Vice Chairman, Arwani Thomafi, has denied Lukman’s involvement in the graft case related to Romahurmuziy, and insisted that the money was to be used as fees for guest speakers in upcoming events. “Why can’t a minister have hundreds of millions of Rupiah? It does not have to come from corruption,” Arwani said.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla expressed his sentiments about the situation, and said that the KPK too, would find a lot of cash in his home if they were to raid his place. The Vice President stated that the cash is for operational funds and spending, especially in cases of emergency.
Romahurmuziy, who has since resigned from the PPP, was accused of accepting a total of Rp 300 million from two officials at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, seeking to pass a job selection process at the ministry’s offices in East Java.
Source: Kompas
Image: Antara News
