KPK Seeks Overses Travel Ban on Ex-Forestry Minister

Jakarta (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has asked immigration authorities to impose an overseas travel ban on former forestry minister MS Kaban for his alleged part in the Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) procurement graft case. "Today KPK investigators wrote to the Directorate General (of immigration), asking for an overseas travel ban on former forestry minister MS Kaban," KPK spokesman Johan Budi stated here on Tuesday. The KPK has also asked the immigration authorities to prevent Kaban's driver, Muhammad Yusuf, from traveling abroad. On Friday (Feb. 7), the KPK questioned Yusuf as the first witness in the case since the arrest of the agency's long-wanted corruption suspect, Anggoro Widjojo, in China late last month. The KPK has named Anggoro, the former director of PT Masaro Radiokom, as a graft suspect in connection with the procurement of the Integrated Radio Communication System (SKRT) at the Forestry Ministry since June 19, 2009. The project was once put on hold by the former forestry minister M. Prakosa, but it was later revived in 2007, when M.S. Kaban took over the post of forestry minister. Anggoro has been accused of having influenced the members of the House Commission overseeing the forestry affairs and the Forestry Ministry to continue the project. "The overseas travel ban (on MS Kaban) is valid for six months. This way, whenever he will be questioned in the case against suspect AW (Anggoro Widjojo) he will not be abroad," Johan stated. However, the KPK has set no date to question MS Kaban who is now the chief of the Crescent and Star Party (PBB). In the previous court session, former secretary general of the Forestry Ministry Boen Mochtar Purnama confessed to having received US$20 thousand from Anggoro with prior consent from the then forestry minister MS Kaban. "MS Kaban's testimony against the suspect AW is needed. The confession at the court session must be verified to check whether or not it is true," Johan added. *