PGN director detained over corruption case

The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) has detained Djoko Pramono, Director of General Affairs and Human Resources of state gas distributor PT Perusahaan Gas Negara (PGN) Tbk, to facilitate an investigation into his alleged role in a bribery case.

PGN Corporate Secretary Wahid Sutopo said on Friday that Pramono was on leave, starting from Jan. 14.

?He has been on leave since Jan. 14, 2010,? Sutopo said in a statement filed with the Indonesia Stock Exchange.

KPK investigators arrested Pramono on Thursday and will put him under custody for the next 20 days. The commission has also declared PGN former President Director Washington Mampe Parulian Simanjuntak a suspect in the same case.

The two PGN top executives are accused of extorting contractors to raise bribe money for House of Representatives lawmakers in exchange for their approval of PGN privatization through an initial public offering in 2003. Pramono was the finance manager at that time. (*)