Rudi admits of giving $200,000 THR bonus to Commission VII members

The suspended chairman of the upstream oil and gas authority Rudi Rubiandini admitted of giving Idul Fitri bonus (better known here as THR bonus) worth US$200,000 to members of the House of Representatives Commission VII, overseeing the energy and mining sector, in 2013, the leading Kompas daily said Friday.

He told the Corruption Court in Jakarta on Thursday that the money was handed over via lawmaker Tri Yulianto from the Democratic Party.

Rudi, who has been charged of receiving bribe money from Singapore-based oil trader Kernel Oil, said he was advised by certain people that giving the THR bonus to the Commission VII members has been an annual tradition. He also acknowledged that certain Commission VII members reminded him of the bonus, and this as a form of pressure. He, however, declined to disclose the names of the lawmakers.

On Wednesday, Commission VII lawmaker Sutan Batoenaga was questioned by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) over allegations that the he had squeezed for money from SKK Migas. (*)