President not Yet Informed of Jero's Status as Suspect

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono is yet to receive an official notification from the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which has named Jero Wacik as a suspect in a graft case, presidential spokesman said. "The president learned that the KPK has named the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik a suspect from a media report today," spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha said in a short message text on Wednesday. Julian, who accompanied the president during a three-day state visit to Singapore, remarked that the head of state was shocked to hear the report. "The news report has shocked the president. Currently, he is not aware of the case in which Jero has been named," he noted. "As a written notification has not been received, we cannot further comment on the issue," he said. President Yudhoyono and First Lady Ani Yudhoyono arrived at Singapore on Tuesday and are scheduled to return to Jakarta on Thursday. The KPK on Wednesday had named Jero as a suspect in an extortion case, KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto stated. "He is believed to have misused his position as minister to extort money worth Rp9.9 billion from various sources," noted Bambang. According to the antigraft body, Jero is believed to have ordered his staff to raise additional funds for the minister's operational costs. Jero's staff then carried out fictitious activities, which were funded by sponsors from private parties. "Some of the activities are fictitious," Bambang claimed. (*) Reported by Panca Hari Prabowo