Ex-minister Laksamana grilled over PGN case

JAKARTA: The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is questioning former state enterprise minister Laksamana Sukardi in connection with alleged graft in the 2003 Rp 136 billion (US$14.2 million) gas distribution network construction project.

"He is being questioned as a witness," said KPK spokesman Johan Budi on Monday.

Johan said Laksmana's account would augment the dossiers of suspects in the case, including former state gas producer PGN president director Washington Mampe Parulian Simanjuntak.

The KPK is accusing Washington of receiving Rp 3.5 billion in bribes from the project officer and has found illegal fund-raising from the PGN regional chapters was used to finance the project.

The case evolved around a previous corruption case within PGN's East Java chapter, which implicated its general manager Trijono, former PGN finance director Joko Pramono and former House of Representatives lawmaker Hamka Yandhu of the Golkar Party. Hamka is serving a jail term for accepting bribes in the Bank Indonesia scandal.

Johan said the KPK would investigate the money trail within the House. - JP