Yusril denies blocking graft probe

JAKARTA: State Secretary Yusril Ihza Mahendra dismissed on Thursday allegations that he had intervened in an investigation into widespread corruption at the State Secretariat.

"I only ask for a delay to the probe into the alleged misuse of funds for the recent Asia-Africa Summit until next week, pending completion of an audit," Yusril said.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) has suspended the audit because all documents, including receipts of the summit spending, had been sent to the interdepartmental anticorruption team, which is now investigating the case.

Head of the team, Hendarman Supandji, said on Wednesday Yusril had written to his office asking for a suspension of the investigation pending the audit from BPK. -- JP