05 September 2014, News Wires – Indonesia’s Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, has resigned in the wake of being named a suspect in a corruption probe, according to a report.
– Upstream
05 September 2014, News Wires – Indonesia’s Minister of Energy & Mineral Resources, Jero Wacik, has resigned in the wake of being named a suspect in a corruption probe, according to a report.
Jero’s resignation was expected after the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) named him as a suspect in relation to his role in a number of alleged cases of graft.
The minister submitted his resignation to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Friday, local newspaper Jakarta Globe reported.
The paper cited another minister as saying Jero’s resignation had been accepted and the hunt is on to appoint an interim minister.
Jero has not, however, given up his position in the ruling Democratic Party, the report continued.
The ongoing KPK probe is focused on the Indonesia’s upstream oil and gas regulator SKKMigas, and has already led to the conviction and jailing for seven years of former regulator chief Rudi Rubiandini. Jero’s number two at the ministry, secretary general Waryono Karno, was also arrested after $200,000 cash was found in his office.
Upstream last November reported that the minister was questioned by the KPK in the wake of the Kernel Oil oil trading graft scandal that implicated the upstream regulator and staff in the ministry, although Jero has always maintained his innocence.
– Upstream
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