Jakarta (AsiaNews) - Suryadharma Ali, former Minister for Religious Affairs and leader of the United Development Party (PPP), was sentenced yesterday to six years in prison plus a fine for corruption during his term as minister for having appropriated money for Islamic religious pilgrimages.
Suryadharma Ali was minister in the government of President Yudhoyono (2009-2014). The PPP, of which he was president, is the moderate National Islamic party. The beginning of the political trial dates back to three years ago, when Ali was accused of taking bribes to favor certain candidates for the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Saudi Arabia, which manages the pilgrimage, imposes a maximum annual number of pilgrims from abroad. In Indonesia, the most populous Muslim country in the world, the faithful often have to waith up to 10 years before being included on the list. The pilgrimage is organized by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which receives payment for the pilgrimage several years in advance. In addition to receiving bribes, Ali also took some of this money on several occassions.
Prosecutors had asked for 11 years in prison but the Jakarta corruption court (Tipikor) reduced the sentence to six. Ali will also have to pay a fine of 21 thousand dollars and is banned from any political office for five years. Either party may appeal.
In all, the politicians’ corruption cost Jakarta 27 billion rupees (nearly two million dollars) of financial losses.
The population was surprised by the sentencing of the former Minister of Religious Affairs, who should be the defender of morality in the country.