Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Upstream Oil and Gas Special Working Unit (SKK Migas) confirmed that head of the agency Rudi Rubiandini had been arrested by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on graft charge.

SKK Migas spokesman Elan Biantoro said he was shocked at the news of Rudi being arrested by KPK.

"I know Rudi since he was a student as an honest, fair with high integrity," Elan told ANTARA News.

He said he could not give much information about the arrest more than he heard from televisions.

Two TV stations broadcast this morning telephone interviews with KPK spokesman Johan Budi about the arrest of Rudi on Tuesday night.

Rudi, formerly deputy minister for energy and mineral resource and named head of SKK Migas early this year, was arrested red handed receiving bribe money at his house in Jakarta, Johan Budi said.

Rudi was nabbed with two other men believed to be the bribers and officials of a foreign oil company Kernel Oil with money totaling US$700,000.

They have been driven to KPK office for questioning to determine their status in the graft case, Johan Budi told the local televisions.

He said KPK made the move on Rudi that night after receiving report of suspicious deal with the company a few days earlier.

Elan said Kernel Oil was not an oil operator, therefore, it has no direct business contract with SKK Migas.

SKK Migas secretary Gde Pradnyana refused to comment beyond expressing disbelief saying the agency would continue to operate normally despite without Rudi.

"We could not comment much. We are shocked but we would continue to work normally," Pradnyana said.

Lawmaker from the ruling Democratic Party Sutan Bathoegana also expressed disbelief about the arrest of Rudi, who he described as a "rising star" in the energy sector

The chairman of the Commission VII of the House of Representative said only a few days ago he met with Rudi at his house talking about the national energy policy.

"I believed Rudi and the Commission VII share more or less the same view in energy issue," Bathoegana said.
(Uu.H-ASG/O001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH

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