Govt probing into haj graft case

JAKARTA: Special antigraft team chief Hendarman Supandji has asked police investigators to declare suspects within two weeks in a matter of alleged corruption in the management of the Islamic haj pilgrimage during the period 2001-2005.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has widely been accused of corruption in organizing the annual haj program.

"In the next phase, investigators will determine officials who have caused state losses and will declare them suspects," Hendarman said on Monday.

He said the police began the investigation into the case on May 17.

Hendarman's deputy Indarto, from National Police headquarters, said that as of last week, the investigators have questioned several officials from the religious affairs ministry over the case. --Antara