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PPATK finds 'suspicious' transactions in Jero's bank account
The Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK) said on Thursday that that it had found suspicious transactions worth billions of rupiah in Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacikâs bank account, following his being named an extortion suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday
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he Financial Transaction Reportsand Analysis Centre (PPATK) said on Thursday that that it had found suspicioustransactions worth billions of rupiah in Energy and Mineral Resources MinisterJero Wacik's bank account, following his being named an extortion suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday.
PPATK deputy chairman Agus Santoso said the centre had sent Jero's financial records to the KPK for further examination.
Agus added that if later on the KPK confirmed the suspicions, then investigators could add further charges.
The KPK named Jero a suspect for allegedly instructing his subordinates to collect funds of around Rp 9.9 billion (US$842,052) from 'illegal sources' between 2011 and 2013.
The commission said it was also investigating the possibility that Jero had collected payments from agencies under his ministry's supervision, including the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas) and state oil and gas firm PT Pertamina, which have long been considered "cash cows".
Agus said Jero's financial records revealed other parties may have been complicit with Jero in the extortion scheme, but he declined to name names as it "could hamper the ongoing KPK investigation".
"The money flows according to the financial records may help the KPK to net other potential suspects in the case," Agus went on, adding that he could not recall the total amount of suspicious transactions in Jero's bank account.
Jero is the third minister in outgoing President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet to be named a graft suspect, following former youth and sports minister Andi Alfian Mallarangeng, also a Democratic Party politician, and former religious affairs minister Suryadharma Ali.(dic)
