T

he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said on Friday that it was looking to track down other persons who might have collaborated with former energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik in his alleged corruption.

KPK spokesman Johan Budi said on Friday that currently the commission was investigating the probability of the involvement of others in the case because it had found that the illegal levies allegedly collected by Jero, were not solely enjoyed by himself. '€œThe levies were used not only for his interest but also for others'€™ interests,'€ he told reporters late on Friday.

Johan further said the KPK would summon more witnesses to build the case. '€œThere will be more witnesses who will be asked about other people who may be involved in the case,'€ he said.

Jero Wacik, who is also a senior Democratic Party politician, has been accused of abusing his power by forcing his subordinates to collect around Rp 9.9 billion (US$838,000) in levies from illegal sources in the ministry.

The KPK said the estimated sums involved in the levies could increase as the investigation progressed. The anti-graft body has also collected evidence to determine whether Jero'€™s family members, including wife Triesnawati, could have benefited from the illegal levies.

According to the anti-graft body, Jero collected the money through procurement-project kickbacks, mark-ups in the ministry'€™s budget and creating bogus programs.

Earlier on the same day, KPK questioned Rida Mulyana, the ministry'€™s director general of new, renewable energy and energy conservation, and Waryono Karno, the ministry'€™s former secretary general, as witnesses in the case.

Rida, who was questioned as a witness for only an hour, said he was questioned about his role as a former head of planning and cooperation at the ministry.

'€œThe questioning session was only to confirm whether there were any changes in my testimony [from previous questioning],'€ he said, adding that he was asked about his duties and functions as a former planning and cooperation bureau head, and its relation to Jero.

Rida previously was summoned by KPK as a witness for Waryono on May 12 and July 3.

When asked about the extortion and illegal levies allegedly conducted by Jero in the ministry, Rida said that he was not aware that anything happened during his time at the ministry. '€œI'€™m not here to defend Jero, but [he] never asked anything of me,'€ he added.

Meanwhile, Waryono, who was questioned for around five hours declined to comment. Waryono was previously a suspect in a bribery case involving Upstream Oil and gas regulatory Special Task Force
(SKKMigas) head Rudi Rubiandini.

On Thursday, the commission also questioned a number of officials from the ministry. Among them were I Ketut Wiryadinata, one of Jero'€™s special staff members, and presidential special staff for politics and communication Daniel Sparingga.

Jero'€™s case came to light after Karen Agustiawan, the former president director of Pertamina, told KPK investigators that former SKKMigas head Rudi once phoned her to say that he and Jero had agreed that SKKMigas would provide $150,000 to help ease the ministry'€™s budget deliberation at the House of Representatives, while another $150,000 was to be provided by
Pertamina. (ask)