KPK Questions SKK Migas Chief

Jakarta (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Friday questioned Upstream Oil and Gas regulatory special task force (SKK Migas) head Yohannes Widjanarko as a witness in a money laundering case. "He was questioned as a witness," KPK spokesman Priharsa Nugraha confirmed at the KPK building. Widjanarko was appointed SKK Migas chief to replace Rudi Rubiandini, who was named as a suspect for allegedly taking a bribe of US$400 thousand from the commissioner of PT Kernel Oil Private Limited, Simon Gunawan Tanjaya, through his golf trainer, Deviardi. Rudi was arrested at his house in Jl. Brawijaya, South Jakarta, on August 13, 2013. Later, the KPK also named Rudi as a suspect in the money laundering case. Widjanarko was SKK Migas' deputy chief when KPK arrested Rudi. On Friday, Widjanarko gave his testimony in the money laundering case involving Rudi. KPK has also summoned a Singapore-based businessman, Widodo Ratanachaitong, in connection with a bribery case. KPK was expected to question Widodo on Friday. However, that did not happen as the letter summoning Widodo was sent to the wrong address in Singapore. Widodo is CEO of Fossus Energy Ltd, Kernel Oil Pte Ltd, Fortek Thailand Co. Ltd and World Petroleum Energy Pte Ltd. He is also a superior of operations manager and commissioner of PT Kernel Oil Pte Limited (KOPL) Indonesia Simon Gunawan Tanjaya, who was also named as a suspect in the bribery case. Rudi is believed to have received 200 thousand Singapore dollars and US$900 thousand from Widodo in exchange for tenders for crude and condensate from SKK Migas. (*)