Anak Krakatau eruption disrupts KPK corruption witness examinations

Volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau has disrupted Indonesia's corruption investigations, forcing the Corruption Eradication Commission, known as the KPK, to reschedule witness examinations.

KPK spokesperson Budi Prasetyo said Lalu Rudi Iskandar, chair of the West Lombok Regency General Elections Commission, had been due to appear at the agency's Red and White Building in Jakarta on Sept. 7. He could not comply with the summons because ash from the eruption delayed his flight to the capital.

“The witness was unable to comply with the summons following flight delays to Jakarta due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau,” Budi told reporters in Jakarta on Tuesday.

Mount Anak Krakatau erupted on Sept. 5, sending ash plumes across several areas and disrupting operations at some airports, including Soekarno-Hatta near Jakarta.

The West Lombok case emerged after a sting operation targeting Regent Lalu Ahmad Zaini on July 20. The KPK named Zaini and Sudirman, president director of PT Air Minum Giri Menang, as suspects in an alleged conflict of interest involving goods and services procurement. It also named them, along with Alvonsus Gani, president director of PT Meconel Sistim Instrument, as suspects in an alleged bribery case within the West Lombok administration.

The agency suspects the regent received up to 12.4 billion rupiah, including 10.8 billion rupiah linked to the alleged conflict of interest and 1.6 billion rupiah in bribes after PT Meconel Sistim Instrument won a West Lombok government project.

“

The witness was unable to comply with the summons following flight delays to Jakarta due to volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau.