Dahlan Iskan named graft suspect in power project

Dahlan Iskan, known as an outspoken minister during the President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) administration, has been named a graft suspect by the Jakarta Provincial Public Prosecutors? Office.

He was accused of committing graft in the project worth Rp 1.063 trillion to develop master power stations in Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, while he was the president director of state owned electricity firm PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara.

Waluyo, spokesperson of the prosecutors? office, told Antara he was named a suspect after being questioned as a witness in his capacity as the former holder of ?budget utilization authority? (KPA) at PLN.

He said his office has discovered two evidences pointing to the graft committed by Dahlan. The prosecutors? office has also questioned Nur Pamudji, former president director of PLN, who replaced Dahlan at the end of 2011. Dahlan left his CEO position at PLN after being appointed by SBY as Minister of State Enterprises.

Waluyo said the prosecutors? office has named 15 people as suspects in the corruption case, including nine PLN officials, who have been put in jail.

The master station project was kicked off in December 2011 with the target to be completed in 2013.

Dahlan, the owner of the Surabaya-based Jawa Pos media group, was a popular minister during the SBY administration due to his controversial and unconventional actions in disciplining state owned companies.

When asked for comments, Dahlan said on Friday he accepted the prosecutors? office naming him a suspect.

?After this, I will study what has actually happened at the project because I did not follow its development for three years. As the holder of KPA, I was held responsible for what has happened with the project, including anything that my subordinates had done,? he said.

?(During the questioning by the prosecutors), I was asked regarding my proposal to break the existing rules. I said ?Because I want the project to go ahead. I could not stand listening the public?s complaints over power shortages,? he said.

He apologized to his wife for not listening to her when she dissuaded him from accepting the offer from the government to fill the PLN top position, noting that they already have enough wealth.

?Now, I have been declared a suspect. I must accept it,? he said.

?I ask PLN?s board of directors to allow me to all old files of PLN because I don?t have any of them,? he said.

Editing by Johannes Simbolon