Jakarta. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has launched an internal investigation into alleged misappropriation of official travel funds worth Rp 550 million ($35,248) involving an employee at the administration division, a spokesman said on Friday.

The employee, identified as Novel Aslen Rumahorbo, was recently fired by the KPK.

"There has been a meeting discussing the matter during which we agreed to launch an investigation," KPK spokesman Ali Fikri said in Jakarta.

This could mean that Novel will be charged with a criminal offense, but Ali declined to confirm that.

"We must first prepare administrative documents such as dossiers, case analyses, and the issuance of a warrant," Ali said. “After this stage is completed, we will summon witnesses and announce the case to the public.”

Earlier this week, KPK Secretary-General Cahya Harefa said the graft scandal was uncovered by Novel’s superior and his coworkers. 

Novel allegedly cut the amount of reimbursements paid to employees who were assigned to official trips. Employees also complained about protracted delays in travel cost reimbursements.

The ongoing investigation follows another scandal in which dozens of KPK employees including security guards were found to have accepted bribe money from graft detainees.

In December, KPK Chairman Firli Bahuri was dismissed by the president after he was named a suspect by the National Police for allegedly extorting money from a graft suspect.

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