JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Suryadharma Ali, Minister of Religious Affairs and graft suspect, might be charged with the Anti-Money Laundering Law following the allegations of his money laundering act found by the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK).

Talking to the press on Monday (May 26), PPATK Deputy Chairman Agus Santoso revealed that PPATK has found a lot of suspicious transactions worth Rp230 billion related to Suryadharma. According to Agus, the PPATK has delivered the report to the KPK.

As reported earlier, the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named Suryadharma as suspect in the haj graft case on May 22. KPK has charged Suryadharma with Article 2 Paragraph 1 or Article 3 of the Anti-Corruption Law juncto Article 65 of the Indonesian Criminal Code (KUHP).

KPK has also asked the Immigration Office to ban Suryadharma from overseas travel for the next six months.

Today, Suryadharma has tendered his resignation as Religious Minister to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Suryadharma, who is also Chairman of Islamic-based United Development Party (PPP), is one of key leaders in a coalition of six political parties endorsing Prabowo Subianto and Hatta Rajasa as a pair of presidential and vice presidential candidates in July 9 presidential election. That six political parties of Prabowo-Hatta’s coalition are Gerindra, PAN, PPP, PKS, Golkar Party, and PBB. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)