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Yudhoyono's circle received illicit funds from ministry
It wasnât me: Former Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary-general Waryono Karno (left) converses with one of his lawyers during the first hearing of his graft case at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday
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span class="inline inline-center">It wasn't me: Former Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary-general Waryono Karno (left) converses with one of his lawyers during the first hearing of his graft case at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Thursday. In its indictment, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors said that money illegally collected by Waryono had ended up in the hands of individuals affiliated with former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. JP/Wendra Ajistyatama
The first hearing in the trial of former Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary-general, Waryono Karno, at the Jakarta Corruption Court revealed on Thursday that cash collected from rigging a series of procurement projects at the ministry partly ended up in the hands of individuals affiliated with former president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's State Palace.
Thursday's hearing saw Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) prosecutors indict Waryono for corruption, accusing him of embezzling a total of Rp 11 billion (US$835,872) of dirty money between 2011 and 2012 in his capacity as secretary-general when the ministry was led by Jero Wacik, one of Yudhoyono's right-hand men.
Waryono's indictment revealed that the ministry had paid Rp 185 million on two separate occasions to Yudhoyono's presidential adviser on political communications, Daniel Sparringa.
The indictment did not reveal why the money was paid to Daniel, who is also a lecturer at Airlangga University in Surabaya, East Java.
'At least Rp 185 million was paid to Daniel Sparringa,' KPK prosecutor Fitroh Rohcahyanto said as he read the indictment at the court on Thursday.
The KPK grilled Daniel in relation to the allegations on June 25, 2014, at which time he maintained his innocence. Daniel has denied any wrongdoings in the case.
'I have explained everything that I knew about the case to KPK investigators to clarify the allegations. I am ready to help the KPK to make the case crystal clear,' Daniel said in June 2014.
Fitroh also said that the ministry spent Rp 25 million to fund Presidential Security Detail (Paspampres) activities; Rp 70 million to Ansor, the youth wing of the country's largest Muslim organization Nahdlatul Ulama; Rp 53 million to 83 journalists; as well as Rp 10 million to the Association of Islamic Students (HMI).
'Rp 5 million was given to Ms. Silva, an official at the State Secretariat, for a THR [holiday bonus]. Part of the embezzled money, around Rp 20 million, was used to pay amenities for the energy ministry's auditors,' the indictment said.
The ministry was also said to have financed a lunch with Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) officials. It was not known whether payment for the lunch was related to the BPK's attempt to audit the ministry's budget use.
Meanwhile, KPK prosecutors said that Waryono himself received Rp 150 million from the scheme, adding that the rigging of the projects was carried out based on his orders.
Thursday's hearing also found that the energy ministry had extorted the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Special Task Force (SKKMigas), an agency under its supervision, demanding it give $140,000 to the energy ministry.
Waryono instructed his subordinates to collect the money from SKKMigas to be given later to the House of Representatives Commission VII overseeing energy and minerals.
The payment was made so that Commission VII members would give their approval to the ministry's budget for 2013.
'The defendant gave $140,000 in the form of dollar bills to Sutan Bhatoegana, who served as the House of Representatives Commission VII chairman, through Irianto Muchi [Sutan's staffer],' prosecutor Fitroh Rochayanti said at the court.
Sutan is currently standing trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court for allegedly receiving the $140,000 from the energy ministry.
Waryono stands accused of violating articles 3 and 5 of Law No. 13/1999, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years behind bars for state officials who enrich themselves, other parties and corporations.
