JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Karen Agustiawan, President Director of state oil and gas company PT Pertamina, is Monday (Jan 27) questioned for three times by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) related to the graft scandals in the powerful Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Body (SKK Migas) and the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources.
Rudi Alfonso, Karen’s lawyer, explained his client will be questioned by KPK’s investigators as a witness for Waryono Karno, one of suspects in the case and former Secretary General of the Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources.
As reported earlier, Karen has been questioned by KPK for twice in November 2013. At that time, Karen was questioned as witness for Rudi Rubiandini, another suspect in the case and the dismissed Chief of the SKK Migas.
Pressure on Karen has been intensified in the last two months. Last week, Kompas, the largest newspaper in the country, reported Karen was caught in a conversation with Rudi Rubiandini about the so-called holiday bonuses (THR) for lawmakers at the House Commission VII (overseeing energy and mining affairs).
The report also quoted statement from Pertamina, denying the conversation was related to the collection of funds for the so-called THR to be delivered to lawmakers at the powerful House Energy Commission. (haryantos@yosefardi.biz)