REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) questioned Deputy Minister for Tourism and Creative Economy Sapta Nirwandar as witness for former energy and mineral resources minister Jero Wacik who was named suspect in an extortion case.
"I am here not as a witness but as a discussion partner to the KPK investigators," remarked Sapta, who admitted that he was questioned about the standard operational money given to the ministers.
On September 3, the KPK had named Jero Wacik, the former energy and mineral resources minister and a senior politician from President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Democrat party, as suspect in an extortion case where he allegedly amassed a total of Rp9.9 billion during his ministerial term in 2011-2012.
According to the anti-graft body's investigation, Jero is believed to have ordered his staff to generate additional funds for the minister's operational costs. Jero's staff then carried out fictitious activities, which were funded by sponsors from private parties.
Jero allegedly extorted money from various parties as he was of the viewpoint that the operational budget set aside for the energy and mineral resources minister for the 2011-2013 period was lesser than the amount allocated during the 2004-2001 period when he held the post of minister of tourism and creative energy.
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