Police freeze bank accounts of religious affairs ministry

Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The National Police have frozen bank accounts held by the Ministry of Religious Affairs worth Rp 684 billion (US$72 million) in relation to an alleged graft case within the institution.

National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Soenarko D.A. said on Tuesday that the Development Finance Comptroller (BPKP) had found irregularities in the management of haj funds after it had audited the ministry.

"According to Law No. 17/1999, the unused money collected for the haj must be kept in a single bank account," Soenarko said during a gathering, accompanied by chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Makbul Padmanegara.

He said the haj funds, totaling Rp 11 billion, had been managed professionally until 2002.

However from 2003 until now, the unused money has been kept in separate accounts, with lack of transparency in the management of the funds, thus raising suspicion of corruption.

He said those who managed the haj money could make a huge profit from the interest gained by keeping the haj fees in accounts.

Members of the House of Representatives have accused the government of being monopolistic in managing haj affairs.

Thus, the police moved to freeze the bank accounts containing some Rp 600 billion in haj funds, and another Rp 84 billion in welfare funds for the ministry's employees.

However, Soenarko refused to mention whether any ministry officials had been questioned in the case, saying the information would not be disclosed for the sake of the police's investigation.

"We also need time before we can name any suspects. Let the police investigators do their work," Soenarko said.

Alleged graft in the Ministry of Religious Affairs was one of five cases being handled by an inter-departmental corruption eradication team chaired by Hendarman Supandji, who is also deputy attorney general for special crimes at the Attorney General's Office (AGO).

Hendarman passed the case over to the National Police since they had already begun to investigate the graft case.

The fight against corruption is one of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's top priority.

Indonesia sends about 205,000 haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia every year. Each pilgrim must pay around Rp 24 million and the country collects about Rp 5.28 trillion from the haj each year.

Indonesian pilgrims have to pay more than Malaysians. The cost in Malaysia is about 8,973 ringgit (around Rp 20 million), including a return air fare and accommodation in Saudi Arabia.