KPK Summons Six Energy Ministry Officials as Witnesses in Jero Case

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Wednesday summoned six officials of the energy and mineral resources ministry as witnesses in an extortion case involving former minister Jero Wacik.

"They will be questioned as witnesses," the head of the KPK Media and Information Section, Priharsa Nugraha, said here on Wednesday.  Jero Wacik is a former minister for energy and mineral resources.

The six officials are  chief of legal bureau at the ministry's secretariat general Susyanto, ministerial adjutant Jemmy Alexander, chief of sub-section at the ministry's planning and cooperation bureau Agus Sugiharto Haryono, chief of the ministry's planning and cooperation department Ego Syahrial, secretary of the ministry's electricity directorate general Arif Indarto, and chief of administrative section of the ministry's public communication centre Dwi Purwanto.

The anti-graft agency began investigating the case on Wednesday by questioning six witnesses including presidential aide for political communication, Daniel Sparingga, and Indopos director, Don Kardono.

Daniel denied on Tuesday any involvement in the extortion case.

On September 3, the KPK had named Jero as a suspect in an extortion case. He was charged with violating article 12 letter e or article 23 of Law No. 31/1999 adj. Law No. 20/2001 adj. article 421 of the Penal Code.

"He is believed to have misused his position as a minister to extort money to the tune of Rp9.9 billion from various sources," KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto stated.

According to the anti-graft 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 were fictitious," Bambang claimed. (WDY)