Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday had interrogated two lawmakers as witnesses in an alleged graft case against SDA related to the hajj pilgrimage program between 2012 and 2013.

The statement was made by the head of the agencys media and information section Priharsa Nugraha, referring to the former religious affairs minister.

The two lawmakers are deputy chairman of the House Commission IX Irgan Chairul Mahfiz and member of the House Commission X Reni Marlinawati. They are both from the United Development Party (PPP), of which SDA is chairman.

Irgan and Reni were found to have been members of the hajj pilgrimage entourage in 2012 to Saudi Arabia along with SDA, who had been named by the KPK as a suspect in the alleged graft case.

On Monday, the KPK had also questioned Reni Marlinawatis husband Mochammad Amin, Irgans wife Wardatun N Soenjono, and Muslim cleric Noer Muhammad Iskandar and his wife Nur Djazilah Swasta Wardatun N Soenjono.

Earlier, the anti-graft body had questioned other members of the entourage, including SDAs wife Wardhatul Asriah, his son-in-law Rendhika Deniardy Harsono, and chairman of the PPP executive board in Banten province Mohammad Margiono.

They had traveled using the remaining hajj quota. The KPK said the hajj quota should have been provided to those who had been on the waiting list for years.

He had resigned as the religious affairs minister on May 26, 2014. Two days later, Director General of Hajj and Umroh Anggito Abimanyu had also tendered his resignation.

SDA is the second minister to have resigned from the current cabinet after Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng in December 2012 over alleged involvement in a corruption case.

The alleged graft case covers the misappropriation of budget funds from several elements, including hajj pilgrimage cost, accommodation, and transportation charges in Saudi Arabia. The alleged graft case is believed to have inflicted losses worth Rp1 trillion.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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