PTBA?s directors named suspects in corruption case

The Attorney General Office has proceeded with its investigation over a corruption case implicating state-owned coal miner PT Tambang Batubara Bukit Asam (PTBA) by making two directors of the state-owned company as suspects, Kontan daily reported Monday.

Arminsyah, director of investigation at the office's special criminal case division, said that the president director of the company was still a witness in the corruption case. ?Based on our investigation we?ve made two suspects. They are directors of the company,? he said.

The two suspects are Milawarma, director of operational, and Tiendas Mangeka, director of trade. They are suspected to be responsible in the corruption case that had caused a state loss of Rp 362 billion. ?Next week we?ll start interviewing them as suspects,? he said.

The corruption case was related to the procurement of floating crane for loading and unloading services valued at Rp 362 billion in Tarahan seaport, Lampung province in 2009. The procurement was conducted with a direct appointment by the company?s management, which is against the regulation that stipulates any procurement of goods and services at the value above Rp 100 million must be conducted through a tender process. (*)