KPK to Investigate Rudy's Claim That MPS Receive Money

Padang, West Sumatra (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) will investigate Rudi Rubiandini's claim that parliament members of Commission VII asked him for US$200,000 as a "holiday allowance". "We will certainly investigate RR's confession," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Saturday. KPK has earlier questioned Commission VII chairman Sutan Bathoegana for confirmation about the responsibilities of the energy commission in connection to the SKK Migas case. Rudi Rubiandini, the former chief of the oil and gas regulator, is one of the suspects in the corruption case involving the agency. Johan said he did not know if investigators had asked Sutan Bathoegana about Rudi Rubiandini's confession, in which he claimed he had given US$200,000 to Sutan's commission. Rudi, when testifying as a witness for defendant Simon Gunawan in the SKK Migas case at the corruption court in Jakarta on Thursday, admitted he had given US200,000 to Commission VII after Sutan demanded it as a "holiday allowance", known locally as THR. "I do not know if investigators have asked him about it as well," Johan said. Johan noted that if investigators were to later discover two pieces of evidence, certainly the person concerned would be named a suspect. (*)