JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Graft suspect and former Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali expressed his gratitude to the sixth President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) when reading his plea during a trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court, Monday (Jan. 4).
Suryadharma, who has been charged by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) related to the haj scandal, said SBY has given extraordinary trust to him by appointing him as Minister of Cooperatives for the 2004-2009 period and Minister of Religious for the 2009-2014 period.
Surydharma claimed that during his tenure as one of SBY’s ministers, especially as Minister of Religious, he made a lot of progress and breakthroughs. Suryadharma, moreover in his defense, said he has never tried to look for his own benefits during his tenure as minister.
As reported earlier, in previous trial, the KPK’s prosecutor team has demanded 11 years of jail term to Suryadharma. In addition, the KPK’s prosecutor team also asked panel of judges to order Suryadharma to pay Rp750 million in fine plus paying Rp2.325 billion in substitution to the State losses. (haryantosuharman@yosefardi.com)