Police name graft suspects

JAKARTA: Former head of Pertamina's geothermal division Sriyanto and a member of his staff Syafei Sulaiman have been named suspects for their alleged role in fake transactions and mark-up deal in the Kahara Bodas scandal, police said.

National Police Chief of Detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung Soedjono said the two names came out after questioning 24 people. He said there would be more people named suspects soon in the scam that caused US$19 million in state losses.

"During their term as Pertamina supervisors in the project, the two made fake transactions and marked up project costs to enrich themselves," said Suyitno.

Asked about the possible involvement of Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Purnomo Yusgiantoro, Suyitno said the team formed to investigate the case was open to all possibilities. -- JP