Minister faces graft summons

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