Sports Minister Denies Involvement In Corruption Case

Jakarta, Dec 7 (ANTARA) - Sports Minister Andi Mallarangeng has denied allegations that he was involved in the Hambalang sports complex graft case. "During my professional career as a minister I always tried to work hard, without the intent of being corrupt," Andi said during a press conference here on Friday, a day after the anti-graft body named him as a suspect in the graft case. The minister, who is also a high ranking member of the ruling Democrat Party and former spokesman to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, stated that after resigning he will concentrate more on his legal problems in the corruption case. Last Thursday, the anti-graft body announced that it has banned Andi from traveling overseas due to its investigation of a corruption case in the Hambalang sports complex project. "It is true that the KPK has sent a letter to the director general of immigration of the ministry of justice and human rights, number 4569/01/23/21/2012 dated December 3, to ask for a ban on traveling for AAM, AZM and MAT from PT AK," KPK deputy chief commissioner Bambang Widjojanto said earlier. AAM are initials for Andi Mallarangeng, the sports minister, while AZM is Andi Zulkarnain Mallarangeng, the minister`s brother, and MAT for M Arief Taufiqurahman, who was head of the construction division of PT Adhi Karya. "KPK is now conducting an investigation into a corruption case linked to procurement for the Hambalang sports facilities for the year of 2010-2011 committed by suspect Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, as sports minister/user of budgets for the sports ministry, and friends, as meant by Article 2 paragraph 1 and Article 3 of Law Number 39 of 1999 on corruption and for the purpose of the investigation we request your help to prevent or ban three persons, namely AAM, AZM and MAt, concerned with traveling abroad," the letter states.