Former energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik explained the existence of a deeply questioned ministerial operational budget during his questioning as a suspect in an extortion case at the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in Jakarta on Thursday.

He said the first issue raised during the questioning was the ministerial operational budget.

'€œI explained that all ministers and heads of government institutions other than ministries receive ministerial operational budgets. I myself also received such budgets during my terms of office as a culture and tourism minister for seven years and as an energy and mineral resources minister for three years,'€ said Jero as quoted by Antara news agency after undergoing a five-hour questioning session at KPK headquarters in Jakarta on Thursday.

The minister further said that he had used the ministerial operational budget in line with regulations and had never asked for something that exceeded the allocated budget.

'€œThere was a question on whether there was a special meeting held to discuss the ministerial operational budget [at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry]. I used the ministerial operational budget I received along with the existing rules and regulations,'€ he said.

Jero, who is also secretary of the Democratic Party supreme assembly, said that as energy and mineral resources minister, he received a monthly ministerial operational budget of Rp 120 million (US$9,852.22).

Jero'€™s questioning was the first session after the KPK had named him as a suspect on Sept. 2. The commission suspects Jero of orchestrating extortion in a number of activities at his ministry during 2011-2013.

The extortion, which was allegedly aimed at increasing his ministerial operational budget, was allegedly conducted in three ways: First, collecting kickbacks from procurement activities; second, requesting funds from the ministry'€™s business partners; and third, allocating budgets for fictitious meetings.

Some of the ministerial operational budget allegedly flowed to presidential special staff for political communication Daniel Sparingga, former head of House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing energy at the House of Representatives and Democratic Party member Sutan Bhatoegana and Don Kardono, a chief editor of a national media outlet.

Tourism and Creative Economy Deputy Minister Sapta Nirwanda underwent questioning on issues relating to the ministerial operational budget at the KPK on Wednesday. (ebf)

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