TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Ari Dwipayana, a political expert from Gadjah Mada University, said Energy and Mineral Resources Minister was not the main target of the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK).
Ari added the anti-graft body employed the "pyramid strategy" by arresting sidekicks prior to approaching the main actors.
Ari also said that President Yudhoyono had placed Jero in two strategic posts: both in the Democrat party and the cabinet. "Clearly, SBY did not just place a random person for such positions," he said, while calling on the people to back the KPK in tracking down the flow of the illicit cash.
Ari added the graft case implicating Jero was akin to those involving former Democrat chair Anas Urbaningrum and former Democrat treasurer Nazaruddin. Ari suspected the motive behind the graft case was political financing.
Earlier today, the KPK named Jero Wacik as a suspect in a graft case involving his ministry. The KPK alleged, among others, that Jero had earmarked funds for regular meetings, which later proved fictional.
It is estimated that the corruption implicating Jero has cost the nation some Rp9.9 billion.
MUHAMMAD MUHYIDDIN
