Indonesian religion minister declared suspect in hajj-fund graft

Indonesian anti-corruption watchdog (KPK) on Thursday named the country's Religion Minister Surya Dharmaali as suspect in corruption scandal that involved hajj pilgrimage funds, Johan Budi, spokesman of the KPK said here.

Dharmaali, who is also chairman of the Islamic party the United Development Party (PPP), was charged of misusing of the hajj funds in 2012 to 2013 which cause the state suffering financial lost, the spokesman said, referring to about 1 trillion rupiah (some 886. 84 million rupiah) total funds managed by the ministry.

But he did not elaborate further.

"SDA (Surya Dharmaali) is declared as suspect. He is the religion minister," Johan told a press conference at the KPK office.

Scores of others top officials of the ministry were also declared as suspect, he said.

Indonesia has scrambled to fight seismic corruption in the country which has been one of the bottlenecks in effort to improve investment climate.

Scores of officials from active central bank governor to lawmaker have been sent to jail and undergone legal process for corruption charges.

KPF has been at the forefront in fighting graft in the country.