TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) Priharsa Nugraha said KPK will summon seven people for questioning as witnesses for the former Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali's role in corruption allegations in 2012-2013 hajj fund, today.
Those seven witnesses are Guritno Kusumo Danu, former special staff for Suryadharma Ali, wife Tutik Murukhmihati, private employee Erik Satrya Wardhana, Richard Lessang Frans and wife Inani Arya Tangkari, and United Development’s Banten chairman Muhammad Mardiono and wife Etty Triwi Kusumaningsih. Based on the data collected by Tempo, they were in the free hajj entourage with Suryadharma with a total of 35 people.
Erik is known as a friend of Suryadharma’s special staff, Ermalena Muslim Hasbullah, while Richard and wife are friends of Suryadharma. Ermalena was interrogated on May 18. She said she went to Mecca for work, not for free hajj.
Previously, KPK deputy chief Busyro Muqoddas said families of Suryadharma Ali and members of Commission VIII at the House of Representatives (DPR) allegedly went on hajj pilgrimage for free by joining Suryadharma’s entourage or being listed as hajj pilgrimage organizers. Busyro said this was a problem as the quota was not used by prospective hajj pilgrims.
KPK has named Suryadharma Ali a suspect on May 22 in hajj fund corruption. He was allegedly involved in arranging procurement for hajj that absorbs budget of Rp1 trillion.
LINDA TRIANITA
