The head of the House of Representatives Energy and Mineral Commission, Sutan Bhatoegana, has confirmed a lobbying attempt by Democratic Party (PD) secretary-general Eddhie “Ibas” Bhaskoro Yudhoyono through his representatives for PT Rekayasa Industry to win the Gendalo-Gehem gas field tender project.
The representatives, he went on, were Eka Putra from the PD’s logistics division; Sartono Utomo, who is Ibas’ relative; and Denny Karmiana, director of PT Rajawali Swiber Cakrawala and Ibas’ former schoolmate.
“Please support PT Rekayasa Industri to win the tender because Rudi Rubiandini of SKK Migas [the Upstream Oil And Gas Regulatory Special Task Force] has agreed to it,” Sutan said, quoting what Eka had allegedly said to him in a meeting at the Crown Hotel in July 2013.
The statement was given during a questioning session with Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) investigators. Sutan was summoned as a witness in the SKK Migas corruption case.
The involvement of Ibas, the President’s second son, was finally revealed after weeks of denials from almost all the PD top brass, including Sutan. Some of the party’s top figures had said mentioning Ibas represented an attempt to undermine public trust in the PD.
Commenting on Sutan’s statement, PD spokesman Ruhut Poltak Sitompul warned Sutan to tell the truth when he gave a statement, both during questioning and in court, as if he couldn’t provide solid evidence it would lead to the former being accused of perjury.
“Perjury means serving 12 years in prison. So please be careful with what you are about to say next,” Ruhut said as quoted by tempo.co on Tuesday.
Sutan and Gerhard Martin Rumeser of SKK Migas were issued travel bans by the immigration authorities on the request of the KPK a few weeks ago.
The bans were due to their suspected roles in the bribery case, which has seen former Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry secretary general Waryono Karyo suspected of accepting a US$200,000 bribe.
Waryono and Rudi allegedly accepted bribes from the same source. (dic)
Related Posts
