KPK names three coal firms suspects in Rita Widyasari graft case

Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has named three coal mining companies as corporate suspects in a bribery and gratification case linked to former Kutai Kartanegara regent Rita Widyasari, the agency said on Thursday as quoted by local media.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said the companies identified were PT Sinar Kumala Naga (SKN), PT Alamjaya Barapratama (ABP) and PT Bara Kumala Sakti (BKS), all operating in the coal producing Kutai Kartanegara region of East Kalimantan.

The designation follows an expansion of the investigation into alleged gratification payments tied to coal production volumes in the regency, where Rita had previously been named a suspect.

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Budi said investigators suspect the companies and Rita were involved in payments linked to coal output, estimated at about $3.3 to $5 per metric ton.

As part of the probe, investigators on Feb. 18 questioned several witnesses, including SKN President Director Johansyah Anton Budiman, SKN director Rifando and ABP finance staff member Yospita Feronika Ginting, focusing on company operations, production and the alleged distribution of fees to Rita.

Rita is currently serving a 10 year prison sentence after being convicted in 2018 for receiving gratuities of about 110.7 billion rupiah and 6 billion rupiah in bribes related to permits and project contracts. She is also being investigated under money laundering charges linked to the alleged coal related payments.

KPK said the investigation remains ongoing to trace financial flows and identify other parties potentially involved in the case.

Editing by Alexander Ginting