Religious Affairs Minister Named Suspect in Corruption Case

Jakarta (Antara) - Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali was named as a suspect in a corruption case linked to hajj pilgrimage management. He was charged with violating two articles in the anti-corruption law, the deputy chairman of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), Bambang Widjojanto, said in a text message received here on Thursday. "He violated Article 2 and Article 3," Bambang added. Article 2 paragraph 1 of the Law Number 30 of 199i in conjunction with the Law Number 20 of 2001 states that if anyone amasses wealth for himself or others or a corporation against the law to harm the state and the state's economy may be sentenced to a life in prison or a minimum of four years and a maximum of 20 years in jail and fined a minimum of Rp200,000 and a maximum of Rp1 billion. Meanwhile, Article 2 paragraph 2 states that in the case of corruption crimes committed under certain conditions a death penalty may be imposed. Article 3 of the law states if anyone seeks to benefit himself or others or a corporation by abusing his power, opportunity and means embedded in him because of his position or official status to harm the state's finance or economy may be sentenced to a life in prison or a minimum of one year and a maximum of 20 years in jail and fined a minimum of Rp50 million and a maximum of Rp1 billion. (*) Reporting by Imam Santoso