Jakarta – Forestry Minister Malam Sambat Ka'ban and three lawmakers were questioned Monday by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on the embezzlement of Bank of Indonesia funds.

Ka'ban said he was summoned as a witness for Hamka Yamdhu and Anthony Zeidra Abidin, both suspects in the alleged illegal disbursement of Rp 100 billion (US$10.8 million) from the central bank in 2003-2004.

Ka'ban, Anthony and Hamka are all former members of the House of Representatives' Commission IX overseeing financial affairs.

"I don't know anything about disbursement of money to commission members because I wasn't actively involved in it," the minister said after being questioned for more than three hours.

The KPK also questioned three other former members of Commission IX – Burhanuddin Aritonang, Emir Muis and Habil Matari on the same case.

Emir and Habil, currently lawmakers with Commission XI for financial affairs, as well as Burhanuddin, all denied involvement.

In 2006, the Supreme Audit Agency said it discovered the misappropriation of funds, alleging that Rp 31.5 billion was given to more than 10 members of Commission IX during the amendment of the central bank law.