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The
investigation into alleged graft surrounding an environmental restoration
project administered by Chevron Pacific Indonesia has now expanded to include
upstream oil and gas regulator BPMigas.
Andhi
Nirwanto, the assistant attorney general for special crimes, said on Thursday
that the regulator was under scrutiny because of its decision to reimburse CPI
for the bioremediation project, despite allegations that it was never actually
completed.
“We’re
looking into the role of [BPMigas] because they paid out the reimbursement,” he
said.
The
bioremediation project in Duri, Riau, was intended to normalize the conditions
of soil contaminated with toxic substances from CPI’s oil drilling.
CPI
contracted the project to Green Planet Indonesia and Sumi Gita Jaya.
The work
was to be paid for on a cost-recovery basis, meaning that CPI was reimbursed
the full $23.4 million cost of the project by BPMigas.
But
investigators, acting on a tip, say they believe the work was never completed.
Instead,
they allege, someone pocketed the money from BPMigas without first conducting
the agreed-upon environmental repair work.
Andhi said
that the Attorney General’s Office was working closely with the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) in the investigation.
“If indeed
the KPK has any data about the Chevron case, they will hand it over to us,” he
added.
The AGO has
named seven suspects in the case, including five officials from CPI and one
each from Green Planet and Sumi Gita.
Earlier
this month, it announced it had sought travel bans for all seven, but on
Thursday said the request had been denied by the immigration department on a
technicality.
“One of the
requirements for a travel ban application is a picture of the suspect, which we
didn’t have,” Attorney General Basrief Arief said.
He said
investigators would get pictures of the suspects later on Thursday before
deciding on whether to re-file the travel ban request.
A spokesman
for Chevron, Yanto Sianipar, previously denied the allegations, insisting the
company was not guilty of any wrongdoing in a project it said was closely
monitored by the Environment Ministry.
It also
denies the AGO’s claims that the project cost $270 million, saying the figure
covers all its environmental projects in the country.
 |
| A logo of Chevron Pacific Indonesia. (Antara Photo) |
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