KPK Shifts Focus to Oil Sector in Anti Corruption Drive

Jakarta (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) said it has shifted focus in its anti corruption drive to the oil and gas sector in addition to the sectors of agriculture, fishery and forestry. "Not targets but focus in preventing and eradicating corruption. The oil and gas sector is among the sectors in the focus of KPK's anti graft operations," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said in a news conference. Johan Budi gave the new conference after Tuesday morning's breaking news with the arrest of Rudi Rubiandini, head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Special Working Unit (SKK Migas), on graft charge. Rudi, former deputy minister for energy and mineral resources and named head of SKK Migas early this year, was caught red handed receiving bribe money at his house in Jakarta, Johan Budi said. Rudi, described as a "rising star" by lawmaker Sutan Bathoegana, was nabbed with two other men believed to be the bribers and officials of a US oil company Kernel Oil with money totaling US$700,000. SKK Migas spokesman Elan Biantoro said Kernel Oil has no direct business with SKK Migas, which deals mainly with oil and gas contractors in the upstream sector. The US company is an oil trader not an oil operator or contractor, Elan said. The oil and gas industry is believed to be rampant with corruption but the law has hardly made its mark in that sector in the fight against corruption. Rudi case is the first big corruption case in the sector, believed to be the most potential target of corruption. After the arrest of Rudi on Thursday morning, KPK discussed with Chief Economics Minister Hatta Rajasa and other related officials potential losses caused by corruption in the oil and gas sector. Deputy chairman of KPK Adnan Pandu Praja said the result of the meeting could not yet be announced . Meanwhile, Bambang Wuryanto, a lawmaker from the Commission VII of the House of Representative dealing with oil and gas sector asked President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to take step for the consolidation of SKK Migas after Rudi was held in KPK detention. SKK Migas must continue to operate normally without Rudi, Bambang said. "The president normally takes some time in making such strategic decision. Therefore, I recommend Rudi's deputy take over before the president finally names a permanent replacement," Bambang said. (*)