REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono expressed shock at the news of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik being named a suspect in an extortion case where he allegedly received 9.9 billion IDR.

"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 on Thursday.

According to Pasha, 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 had 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 9.9 billion IDR, 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.

 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 9.8 billion IDR in state losses in the project valued at 25 billion IDR 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 200 thousand USD 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.

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