ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC PARTY'S CADRE NAMED SUSPECT BY ANTI-GRAFT BODY By Fardah

    Jakarta, Sept 5, 2014   (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was reportedly shocked over the naming of Jero Wacik (JW), senior cadre of the Democratic Party (PD), as a suspect in a graft case by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).

        JW, who is concurrently the energy and mineral resources minister, was named a suspect in a corruption case of allegedly misusing his position as minister to extort money worth Rp9.9 billion from various sources during the period 2011-2012.

        His fate might follow those of other prominent PD cadres, including Andi Mallarangeng, Anas Urbaningrum, Angelina Sondakh, and Nazarudin, who have ended up in the KPK's prison.

        JW is the third minister of Yudhoyono's Cabinet to have been implicated in corruption cases by KPK, following Suryadharma Ali, former religious affairs minister; and Andi Mallarangeng, former youth affairs and sports minister.

       "The president was shocked to hear the news of JW being named as a suspect by the KPK," presidential spokesman Julian Aldrin Pasha stated on September 4, 2014.

        According to Julian Pasha, a similar reaction was echoed by the Indonesian Cabinet II ministers, who had escorted the president during a state visit to Singapore.

        KPK's investigators had found that the minister had allegedly ordered his staff to raise funds from private parties for the minister's operational costs and fictitious meetings and other activities, according to the KPK Deputy Chairman Bambang Widjojanto.

        "Some of the activities are fictitious," Bambang Widjojanto claimed on Sept. 3, 2014.

        The case involving the minister is a result of the anti-graft body's investigation into a 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, secretary general of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, as a suspect.

         Waryono had caused losses to the state worth Rp9.8 billion in a 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 has also been accused of receiving bribes worth 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 on corruption charges.

        "After assuming the post of energy minister, JW had ordered several employees to collect money, as he claimed to collect operations funds in addition to the budget allocations," Widjojanto noted.

        JW is facing a maximum jail term of 20 years and a fine of up to Rp1 billion. His assets will be traced by the KPK.

        KPK spokesman Johan Budi stated in Jakarta on September 4 that the anti-graft agency has requested an Analysis Result Report from the Indonesia Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Center to trace suspicious transactions carried out by the suspect.

         Tracing the assets is necessary in order to find out whether the suspect was involved in money laundering, Johan Budi noted.

          Based on the State Officials' Wealth Report (LHKPN) dated February 1, 2012, when JW was appointed as the energy and mineral resource minister, he had assets worth Rp11.69 billion and US$430 thousand.

          His assets included houses and lands worth Rp8.218 billion, including land measuring 21,050 square meters in Tangerang, Banten; 1,960 square meters in Tabanan, Bali; and 2,265 square meters in Depok, West Java.

           He also owned several cars, including a Mercedes Benz E230 worth Rp200 million and Nissan Serena worth Rp175 million; gold worth Rp200 million; gems worth Rp100 million; and antique collection worth Rp500 million.

         The minister also had Rp2.3 billion and US$430 thousand stashed away in his bank accounts.

         President Yudhoyono and his cabinet will end their tenure on October 20, 2014. JW had won a seat in the House of Representatives during the legislative elections on April 9, 2014. He will be a legislator for the 2014-2019 period representing the PD.
    However, the KPK's spokesman, Johan Budi, said it will be unethical to inaugurate JW as a member of parliament, as he has been convicted in the corruption case.

         "It is unethical if (JW) is inaugurated, or even sworn in. It does not sound nice to the ears," Budi stated on September 4, 2014.
   He affirmed that the KPK has the authority to investigate JW who has not yet been officially instated as member of the parliament.

        Based on Law UU MD3, Article 245, Chapter 1, a legislator can be investigated only after obtaining a written permission from the Parliament's Honorary Council.

         However, some exceptions are available concerning investigation of legislators. The council's permit is not required if a legislator is suspected of being involved in an extraordinary crime.

         "I am sure JW is a law-abiding citizen, and we suggest that Mr JW focus on the legal proceedings of his case," Budi remarked.

          JW has been banned from overseas travel starting September 3, 2014, for six months, spokesman to Immigration Directorate Office Heriyanto informed on September 4, 2014.

         Heriyanto said JW's special staff I Ketut Wiryadinata had also been banned from traveling overseas.

         The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Secretary General M. Teguh Pamudji told the press recently that JW will honor the legal proceedings.

        "Right now, JW is preparing himself to follow the legal proceedings of the case. In time, he will speak to the media," remarked Teguh, who has been appointed as JW's spokesman.

         Teguh affirmed that the ongoing activities at the ministry will not be affected despite the minister being named as a graft suspect.

        JW is currently the secretary of the PD's High Council and is a member of the Honorary Council of the party, which was founded and is being led by Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

         The ruling party's deputy general chairman Max Sopacua has urged that JW should resign from his position in the party.

         "Based on the pact of Integrity, any party leader named as a suspect in a legal case should resign," Max stressed.

        He added that the party has a commitment to eradicate corruption as confirmed in the pact of integrity signed by all the party leaders.

    ***1***
(f001/INE/a014)