Former Indoneisan Health Minister questioned in corruption case

[News_Editor]

Former Indoneisan Health Minister questioned in corruption case

2011-02-22 12:17:32 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesia's former Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari on Monday was questioned in a corruption case involving Rp 500 million ($56,500) in traveler's checks related to the alleged procurement of portable X-ray machines within the country's Health Ministry in 2007, local media reported.

The case involves several traveler's checks being handed out to legislators and comedians Cici Tegal and Sri Wahyuningsih after PT Kimia Farma won an X-ray machine procurement tender with Indonesia's Health Ministry around 4 years ago.

The main suspect in the case is former Health Ministry Secretary General Sjafil Ahmad, who was one of the 10 people questioned on Monday, and is being charged for receiving around Rp 8.9 billion ($1 million) in bribes for the Kimia Farma X-ray machine tender, among other corruption charges.

During questioning, Siti denied ordering the distribution of any traveler's checks or being involved in the procurement of the X-ray machines, but Sjafil insisted his involvement, while Cici also claimed that the checks, which finances several performances, were from Siti.

According to prosecutors, the checks were originally made by PT Kimia Farma's Commissioner Budiarto Maliang.

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