President Aghast at Jero Wacik Being Named Corruption Suspect

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed shock at the news of Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik being named a suspect in an extortion case where he allegedly received Rp9.9 billion. "The president was shocked to hear the news of Jero Wacik being named as a suspect by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK)," Presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha stated here on Thursday. According to Julian, a similar sentiment was also echoed by the ministers in Indonesian Cabinet II who escorted the president during a state visit in Singapore. He remarked that the president has also not yet received a notice regarding the determination of the status of the suspect. On Wednesday, the KPK had named Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik as a suspect in an extortion case where he received Rp9.9 billion, KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto stated here on Wednesday. "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 anti-graft body's investigation, 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 fictive," Bambang claimed. However, he declined to reveal additional details regarding the names of private parties that had transferred their funds to Jero, the member of the ruling Democrat Party, and his staff. "We are not in a position to give details about this case now. But, what we know is that Jero started raising funds during the period between 2011 and 2012, when he was first appointed as the energy and mineral resources minister," Bambang stated. The case involving the energy and mineral resources minister is a result of the anti-graft body's investigation on the socialization program, procurement of health bikes, and maintenance of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's building in Central Jakarta. The anti-graft body had earlier named Waryono Karyo, the secretary general of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry as a suspect. The case involving Waryono Karno caused Rp9.8 billion in state losses in the project valued at Rp25 billion for socialization activities, procurement of health bicycles, and maintenance of the office of the secretariat of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. Waryono is also named a graft suspect for receiving bribes related to US$200 thousand found by the KPK in his office room during a raid following the arrest of Head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulator (SKK Migas) Rudi Rubiandini, who is now serving a jail term for graft. (*)