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Graft suspect Suryadharma refuses to resign, Prabowo pledges support
Jakarta Globe - May 23, 2014
"I believe in my heart that there is no way SDA [is guilty of corruption]," Prabowo said, as quoted by the state-run Antara news agency. "He is the most successful religious affairs minister to have managed the hajj."
Suryadharma was handed a six-month travel ban and made a suspect on Friday by Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators who alleged that he had a hand in corrupting the state's hajj pilgrimage fund. Around 200,000 Indonesian pilgrims make the journey to Mecca every year.
"Should I step down? I haven't thought about it," Suryadharma said at a press conference in Jakarta on Friday. "Honestly, I don't understand how I could be a suspect."
In comments that some would feel carried considerable political risk before an election despite the presumption of innocence, Prabowo offered Suryadharma his support. Ade Irawan, a researcher at Indonesia Corruption Watch (ICW), said Suryadharma should immediately tender his resignation.
"We hope Suryadharma will follow the example set by Andi Mallarangeng, who immediately stepped down from his position," Ade said, referring to the former sports minister who faces corruption charges relating to the botched construction of a athletes' training facility in Hambalang, West Java.
"It will not affect [the coalition] because we are dealing with institution, not a person," Prabowo said. "Personally I respect it, I will be beside him and let the people make the judgement."
Suryadharma said he was preparing his defense against the charge that he was involved in the corruption of the country's hajj fund in 2012 and 2013.
"From an ethical perspective it would be better if Suryadharma resigned and being cooperative will accelerate the legal process," University of Indonesia academic Gandjar Laksmana Bonaprapta said Thursday.
KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjodjanto said the hajj fund graft was particularly concerning because it has betrayed many people who dreamed of performing jall pilgrimage.
"The hajj fund graft has deeply hurt the pilgrims," he said. "We hope the hajj pilgrims will receive better treatment and will be no longer be insulted by bad service."
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