Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin went to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) headquarters on Wednesday to comply with a summons related to a bribery case involving the promotion process at his office.
Lukman arrived at the KPK building in Kuningan, South Jakarta, at about 9:50 a.m., accompanied by his aides. The minister was to be questioned as a witness for graft suspect Muhammad Romahurmuziy, formerly chairman of the United Development Party (PPP) and the chairman of the PPP faction at the House of Representatives.
“I am here to answer the invitation of the KPK, which wants to get statements from me as a witness in the ongoing case,” Lukman told journalists prior to his questioning. He made assurances that Religious Affairs Ministry officials would be cooperative in helping the KPK to resolve the case.
In its previous written statement, the antigraft body revealed that Lukman received Rp 10 million (US$698) from the newly appointed head of the East Java Religious Affairs Office, Haris Hasanudin.
Haris allegedly got the position with Romahurmuziy's help, according to a text message he sent to the former party chairman. “Thank God. I have been officially appointed this evening because of the help from you and the minister. I am now ready to strengthen the PPP’s grip, especially in East Java,” Haris wrote to Romahurmuziy.
The State Palace has signaled that President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo plans to reshuffle his Cabinet after the Idul Fitri holiday sometime in June amid developing corruption cases that have implicated some its members.
