Minister faces graft summons

JAKARTA: Antigraft investigators are scheduled to question Minister of Justice and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin on Wednesday concerning his role in an alleged corruption scandal at the General Elections Commission (KPU).

Hamid, who was a member of the elections commission before being named a minister in the current government, has been summoned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) for questioning on Wednesday as a witness in the case, in which Rp 20 billion (US$2.1 million) was apparently embezzled.

"As a good citizen ... moreover as a minister, he (Hamid) must answer the summons," said KPK chairman Taufiequrrachman Ruki.

Hamid, who has denied any wrongdoing, was summoned for questioning at 10 a.m., but at the same time he was reportedly also summoned by Commission III of the House of Representatives.

The KPU chairman and three other members have already been named suspects in the investigation and will soon face trial.

KPU members are believed to have received massive kickbacks from companies to ensure contracts to supply election materials ink, ballot papers and ballot boxes, to the KPU. --Antara