KPK Questions Presidential Special Staff's Assistant

Jakarta, Sept 15 (Antara) - The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) on Monday questioned presidential special staff`s assistant for communication and politics, Nur Hasyim, for alleged corruption case. "Nur Hasyim is questioned in connection with corruption case with Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Jero Wacik as the suspect," KPK information spokesman Priharsa Nugraha remarked on Monday. He noted that besides the assistant of the presidential special staff, the anti-graft body also on Monday questioned Dulhadi, the driver of presidential special staff for politics and communication Daniel Sparingga. Sparingga was questioned by KPK last Tuesday as a witness in the alleged corruption case at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry. But during the questioning, he denied that he was involved in the corruption case the energy and mineral resources minister. "I had no role in the case," Sparingga said after being grilled for seven hours by the Corruption Eradication Commission at the time. Energy Minister Jero Wacik, also the secretary of the High Council of the ruling Democratic Party, was charged with abuse of power and extortion, causing a loss of Rp9.9 billion in to the state. Sparingga said he was questioned only as a witness and that he had told his investigators everything he knew about the case. He denied any cooperation between himself and the energy and mineral resources ministry. Sparingga was the first witness questioned by KPK in the case after the anti graft agency declared Jero Wacik as suspect last week. Jero Wacik is facing a maximum jail term of 20 years with a fine of Rp1 billion if found guilty. The case against Jero Wacik surfaced in the process of investigation of Waryono Karno, former secretary general of the energy and mineral resource ministry.