Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Coordinating Minister for People`s Welfare Agung Laksono was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as a witness in connection with alleged corruption in the National Games project in Riau here on Friday.

The minister from the Golkar Party denied he had rejected to meet the KPK summons before.

He said his presence at the KPK was to explain about the case that had made a Riau regional legislative assembly member named as a suspect.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said Agung was questioned in his capacity as a coordinating minister for people`s welfare not a Golkar executive in connection with suspect Lukman Abbas in an alleged bribery linked to the National Games (PON) project.

The KPK has so far named several suspects namely Riau Regional Legislative Assembly Deputy Chief Taufan Andoso Yakin and members M Faisal Aswan and M Dunir, Lukman Abas and Eka Dharma Putra respectively as chief and employee of the Riau sports and youth affairs office and Rahmat Syahputra from PT PP.

KPK has also asked the immigration office to bank Riau governor Rusli Zainal to travel abroad to ease process in case he is to be needed for questioning.

It has also questioned Setya Novanto, the chairman of Golkar Party faction in the House of Representatives and party`s treasurer as a witness in the case.

The budget for the development of shooting venue has been increased from Rp42 billion to Rp62 billion based on the revised by-law Number 6 of 2010.

The Riau regional legislative assembly members were believed to have asked for bribes worth Rp900 million in connection with the revision.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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