Religious Ministry Responds to Bribery Charge against Lukman
Translator
Ririe Ranggasari
Editor
Petir Garda Bhwana
Kamis, 30 Mei 2019 12:51 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Religious Affairs Ministry was unwilling to say much about the bribery charge against their minister, Lukman Hakim Saifuddin. Lukman is accused by the KPK of accepting money in return for official positions at the ministry.
When asked for a statement, the ministry's spokesman and PR head Mastuki said that any legal matter should be "explained in court."
"As this is related to legal materials, it will be revealed in court later," he said via text message on Wednesday, May 29.
Lukman Hakim's involvement was first mention in the indictment against Haris Hasanuddin, the inactive head of the Religious Affairs Ministry's East Java office.
Read: Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin Receives Rp70mn Bribe, says KPK
The KPK accuses Haris of bribing Lukman Hakim and former PPP chairman Romahurmuziy for a total of Rp325 million. The KPK said Lukman received Rp70 million in return for giving Haris a position at the ministry.
When questioned by the KPK, the Religious Affairs Minister admitted that he received Rp10 million from Haris when visiting the Tebu Ireng Islamic boarding school or pesantren.
He claimed that he reported and gave the money to the KPK. The KPK said that his report could not be classified as a report of gratification, since he did it after the investigation process against Haris and Romy begun.
TEMPO.CO
