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KPK names former regent suspect; estimated state losses Rp 2.7t
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Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) head Agus Rahardjo (right) and his deputy Saut Situmorang (left) attend a hearing held by House of Representatives’ Commission III on legal affairs on Sept. 11. The hearing was aimed at getting updates on the KPK’s performance.
(Antara/Puspa Perwitasari)
T
he Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has uncovered one of the biggest corruption cases in the the anti-graft body's history.
The KPK has named Aswad Sulaiman, a former North Konawe regent in Southeast Sulawesi, a suspect for allegedly abusing his power as regent to issue “unlawful” mining permits in the regency between 2007 and 2014.
“The total estimated state losses reach Rp 2.7 trillion [US$200 million] from the sale of nickel produced by miners that earned their permits illegally,” KPK deputy chairman Saut Situmorang told a press conference on Tuesday.
Saut confirmed that the case was one of the biggest ever handled by the KPK. By comparison, the high-profile e-ID case involves estimated state losses of Rp 2.3 trillion while the BLBI (Bank Indonesia liquidity support) case allegedly caused Rp 3.7 trillion in losses.
Aswad was a Democratic Party politician when he became the regent from 2011 to 2016.
He was appointed the caretaker regent when the regency was established in 2007.
Read also: Beleaguered KPK refuses to give up on Setya Novanto
The KPK has accused him of receiving bribes from eight mining companies.
“The suspect allegedly revoked a mining concession of PT Antam in Langgikima and Molawe districts arbitrarily. Previously, he had allegedly issued 30 mining concessions [in the areas] while Antam’s concession was still valid,” Saut said. (bbs)
