Former Pertamina chief banned from traveling overseas

Immigration authorities slapped an overseas travel ban on the former chief of state-owned oil company Pertamina, Faisal Abda'oe, and the former chief director of PT Trikana Bima Nusa Tunggal, Rosano Barack, in connection with a corruption investigation.

The spokesman for the Attorney General's Office, Muljo Hardjo, said during a media conference on Wednesday the two were suspected of graft in the awarding of the high-profile Natuna gas project contract.

Faisal is suspected of causing the state loses of millions of dollars in the awarding of the contract. Rosano was commissioner of PT Bimantara Citra Terbuka when the company was given the contract by the oil company.

The ban became effective on Nov. 17 and will remain in place until sometime next year.

The Attorney General's Office has appointed a team to investigate the corruption charges and will summon the suspects and witnesses for questioning, Antara reported. (*)