REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has appointed Chief Economic Minister Chairul Tanjung as Acting Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources replacing Jero Wacik who has been named a corruption suspect by the Corruption Elimination Commission (KPK).
"Tanjung is appointed through Presidential Decision No. 77/P 2014," Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry (ESDM) Spokesman Dwi Purwanto said here on Thursday.
He said that Tanjung would serve as acting ESDM minister until the end of the Indonesia United Cabinet II tenure (2009-2014) on October 20, 2014.
Earlier, ESDM Deputy Minister Susilo Siswoutomo said the chief economic minister would likely serve as concurrent minister of ESDM.
The chief economic minister is scheduled to chair a meeting in the ESDM office on Thursday.
The KPK, on Wednesday (Sept.3), named Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik as a suspect in an extortion case where he received Rp9.9 billion, 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 emphasized.
"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.
Jero Wacik tendered his resignation as ESDM minister to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday (Sept.5).
The ESDM minister is important, among others, for deciding assumptions in the draft 2015 state budget together with the Commission VII of the House of Representatives at a meeting scheduled on September 16 or 17, 2014.
Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika