Anti-Graft Body Names Transportation Ministry Officials as Suspects

Jakarta (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named certain Transportation Ministry officials as suspects in a case of alleged corruption in phase III of a project to promote the development of sail training in Sorong. The project in question was part of the 2011 budget. "After probing the case of alleged corruption in phase III of the project to promote the development and education of sail training, which was part of the 2011 budget, investigators have found evidence against SG (Sugiarto) and IR (Irawan)," KPK spokesman Johan Budi said here on Wednesday. While Sugiarto is an officer at the Centre for Human Resource Development (PPSDM) of the Directorate General of Sea Transportation, Irawan is a chairman of a committee at the PPSDM. "SG and IR allegedly violated article 2, paragraph 1 or article 3 of Law No. 31/1999 as amended by Act No. 20/2001 on Eradication of Corruption, read in conjunction with Article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code," Budi noted. Under these articles, the officials can be charged for acting against the law, abuse of power, enriching themselves and others, and harming state finances. If proven guilty, the officials could face a 20-year sentence and a fine of up to Rp20 billion. "Due to this case of alleged corruption, the state exchequer is suspected to have incurred losses amounting to Rp24.2 billion. The case is still developing," Budi stated. Furthermore, the anti-graft body has also named former General Manager PT Hutama Karya Budi Rahmat Kurniawan as a suspect for alleged misuse of authority, which, in turn, resulted in losses to the tune of Rp24.2 billion in project valued at some Rp 70 billion. The former general manager has been accused of marking up and violating article 2 paragraph 1 or article 3 of Law No. 31/ 1999 on Eradication of Corruption, as amended by Act No. 20/ 2001, and article 55 paragraph 1 of the Criminal Code, Budi said. (*)