"I Will Meet President Soon," Says Disgraced Minister

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Energy minister Jero Wacik (JW) stated that he will immediately meet with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono after the latter's return from Singapore.

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had named JW as a suspect in an alleged extortion case linked with his position as a minister in 2011-2012 here on Wednesday.

"Regarding the post (Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources), I have signed the integrity pact. I will first meet the president on his return from Singapore, so that the issue (about the position) could be discussed," he told in a news conference at the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources in Jakarta on Wednesday night.

The president was scheduled to arrive in Jakarta on Thursday after his state visit to Singapore.

Following the brief press conference at his office, JW immediately left the office.  

Deputy chairman of the KPK, Zulkarnain, announced at a press conference on Wednesday regarding Wacik's status as a suspect.

"Indeed, an order had been issued on September 2, 2014, regarding investigation on suspect JW of the Ministry of Energy in connection with violation of Article 12 paragraph e or Article 23 of Law No. 31 of 1999 in conjunction with Law No. 20 of 2001 and Article 421 of the Criminal Code," Zulkarnain said.

Article 12 paragraph e states that a state official who acts to benefit him/her or others against law or misuses his/her power to force others to give something, pay to do something for him/her, is an extortion.

Anyone proven violating the law may face a sentence of up to 20 years in jail and a maximum fine of Rp1 billion.

"After assuming the post of energy minister, JW had ordered several employees to collect money, as he claimed to collect additional operations funds than the budget allocations," another KPK deputy chairman Bambang Widjojanto reported at the press conference.

He referred to several illegal activities committed to increase funds, such as procurements or kickbacks, fictitious meetings to collect up to Rp9.9 billion. (WDY)