News Capsule

Sutan Implicates Colleagues

CHAIRMAN of the House of Representatives' Energy Commission for 2009-2014, Sutan Bhatoegana, received a luxurious Toyota Alphard SUV from an oil and gas contractor. A Duta Motor employee, Dewi Handayani, claimed the black Alphard type G was paid by the director of Dara Transindo Eltra, Yan Achmad Suep. Dara is a company operating as an agent for oil and gas production or drilling facilities. "Pak Yan paid US$1,500 in down payments, or around Rp13.2 million," said Dewi. She served as a witness in Sutan Bhatoegana's trial at the Jakarta Corruption Court on Monday last week. Aside from allegedly illegally accepting the Alphard car, Sutan stands accused of accepting Rp50 million from former Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Jero Wacik, and US$200,000 from ex-head of the Upstream Oil and Gas Regulatory Task Force (SKK Migas) Rudi Rubiandini. Sutan has also been charged with accepting bribes totaling US$140,000 from then secretary-general of the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, Waryono Karno. At the trial on Monday last month, Sutan's attorney, Budi Nugroho, stated his objection to the charges. According to Budi, the public prosecutor should have included the names of leaders and members of the House Commission VII for 2009-2014 who shared in the US$140,000. "The structure of Commission VII is collective and collegial," said Budi.