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Villages minister shocked by graft scandal
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Villages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo (Tempo.co/Eko Siswono Toyudho)
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illages, Disadvantaged Regions and Transmigration Minister Eko Putro Sandjojo has said he was shocked when he found out about the arrest of two ministry officials as part of a graft case.
The two officials, Sugito and Jarot Budi Prabowo, were reportedly caught red-handed by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) in the case relating to the Supreme Audit Agency’s (BPK) appraisal of the ministry's financial reports last year.
Eko told a press conference on Saturday that he did not expect that his officials would be implicated in any corruption cases as his ministry was very strict with them.
He said that he still could not believe that Sugito, the ministry’s inspector general, was involved in the alleged bribery case. Eko said Sugito was known as "a simple man living a simple life."
“He is a good person. He lives in a small neighborhood,” Eko said, as quoted by tribunnews.com.
He added that Sugito was vocal in fighting against corruption.
Eko, however, said he would support the KPK during the ongoing legal process. He added that he would give the KPK the opportunity to audit his ministry.
“The purpose is not to arrest my officials, but to carry out preventive action,” he said.
He also commented that his ministry would cooperate with the KPK in solving the alleged bribery case by giving the KPK any information that it needed.
He said that he would meet with Sugito to ask him directly about what had happened and give him support. (rdi/wit)
