JAKARTA: Indonesia’s anti-graft agency says the country’s religious affairs minister is a suspect in a corruption case alleging mismanagement of funds for last year’s Haj pilgrimage.
Suryadharma Ali, who also leads the Islamic-based United Development Party, was suspected to have abused his power by enriching himself or other people.
Corruption Eradication Commission spokesman Johan Budi said a total of $86.7 million was spent for the 2012-13 pilgrimage. He said the amount suspected of being misspent was still being calculated.
Ali is the second active Cabinet minister in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s second term to be named as a corruption suspect.
In December 2012, sports minister Andi Alfian Mallarangeng was suspected of mismanaging the construction of a $122 million sports complex.
Indonesia’s religious minister named graft suspect
