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KPK questions Energy minister over graft
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik as a witness on Wednesday in connection with a corruption case at the ministry
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he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik as a witness on Wednesday in connection with a corruption case at the ministry.
Jero arrived at the KPK headquarters at 9 a.m., while saying that he was summoned by the antigraft body to testify regarding the alleged graft, which happened in 2010.
'The case happened in 2010 and I was inaugurated as minister by the end of 2011,' he said as quoted by Antara news agency.
Jero said his wife, Triesnawati Wacik, had also been questioned for the case, even though he insisted that he and his wife were not involved in any procurement project inside the ministry.
Previously, the KPK questioned Triesnawati to clarify certain points in the preliminary investigation, said KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto. He added that if the KPK investigators found strong evidence then the KPK would name a suspect in the case.
In the preliminary investigation, the KPK also questioned President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's political communication advisor, Daniel Sparingga, and the ministry's former secretary-general, Waryono Karno, who has already been named a suspect for three separate graft allegations in the ministry's procurement projects.
Prior to the investigation, the KPK had investigated three separate graft cases plaguing the ministry as well as the House of Representatives Commission VII on energy and natural mineral resources, which oversees the ministry.
The three graft allegations in 2010 are tied to a public awareness event, fun bike event and the ministry's office maintenance, worth a total of around Rp 25 billion (US$2.12 million). The state incurred an estimated Rp 9.8 billion in losses due to the cases.
The three graft cases comprise the alleged rigging of projects at the ministry, which implicated Waryono; allegations of bribery implicating former Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) head Rudi Rubiandini; and an alleged payoff from the ministry to House Commission VII, which implicated former Commission VII chairman and Democratic Party politician Sutan Bathoegana. (gda)
