8 Dec 2012

Resignation of Indonesian govt member

7:53 am on 8 December 2012

A member of the Indonesian government has been forced to resign over corruption charges.

Andi Malarangeng is a former presidential spokesman and member of the Democratic Party's advisory board.

He is accused of channelling kickbacks into the party from bidders who won tenders for government building contracts.

On Friday he resigned from his positions in President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's party, including that of sports minister.

The ABC reports he was under a travel ban imposed by the Corruption Eradication Commission.

Mr Mularangang is the first government minister to be forced to resign over corruption charges, but the party's former treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin has already been found guilty.

The ABC reports he fled to South America last year but was brought back to appear before the commission.