"This morning, I met the summons of the Attorney Generals Office. We received the summons last week, but I was in Vienna for a meeting with the Organization of Petroleum Exporting countries (OPEC)," the minister clarified here on Monday.
Sudirman said he was to provide details regarding what he had explained to the Houses Ethics Council (MKD) Tribunal.
The minister said he fully supported the upholding of the law if the recording proved that a legal violation had occurred.
The Attorney Generals Office has questioned President Director of PT Freeport Maroef Sjamsoeddin and has confiscated the recording to support its investigation. The Attorney Generals Office is giving priority to investigate the case.
It will also question noted businessmen M. Reza Chalid, who was also part of the recorded conversation.
The transcript of the recording indicated that House Speaker Setya Novanto had sought a stake in PT Freeport Indonesia in exchange of support for the US mining company in seeking the renewal of its contract.
Sjamsoeddin had earlier expressed his readiness to testify at the MKD Tribunal to furnish details of his recent meetings and discussions with Novanto and Chalid.
"For the people and the nation, I would be ready to disclose all facts as clearly as I can. My integrity and loyalty to the nation would never be tarnished," Maroef informed journalists in Tembagapura, Mimika, Papua, last week.
The retired three-star air force general affirmed that the present era is marked by openness, and nothing could stay hidden, especially for the sake of a bigger national interest, he added.
"We fully support President Joko Widodos initiative regarding the need for a mental revolution, which we believe is something useful for the nation," Maroef affirmed.
Part of the transcript of the conversation had earlier been handed over by Minister Said to the MKD.
According to the transcript, Novanto used the names of President Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla to convince Freeport.
Freeport Indonesia, which has large copper and gold mines in Papua, is seeking to renew its work contract, which will expire in 2021.
The supporters of Novanto, especially the MKD members from his Golkar party and Gerindra, had sought to cancel its previous decision in an apparent move to delay the work of the MKD.
Following a failure to reach an agreement, the MKD called for voting that resulted in most of the members opting to go ahead with the decided agenda.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2015
