Enron's Skilling surrenders to FBI

EX-ENRON chief Jeffrey Skilling, believed by many to be primarily responsible for the disaster, surrendered to the FBI in Houston today after reportedly being indicted privately by a federal grand jury.

According to the Houston Chronicle, former chief executive Skilling was named in a sealed indictment handed to US magistrate Judge Frances Stacey after two days of hearings with Enron Task Force prosecutors.

Skilling denies any wrongdoing and claims he had no part in the energy company's collapse into bankruptcy in 2001. The indictment of Skilling is another big step in clearing up the Enron mess and comes soon after former chief financial officer Andrew Fastow did a plea bargain deal in exchange for helping the prosecution. Last month he admitted to fraud and was jailed for 10 years.

The Skilling indictment is a long-awaited coup for prosecutors who have been working on the case for two years. They have faced severe criticism for their inability to snare any top executives, although they have had some recent successes.

Former chief accountant Rick Causey was also indicted following the prosecution's deal with Fastow. He pleaded not guilty.

However, the prosecution team has yet to bring any charges against Kenneth Lay, the ex-chairman who was the most public face of the company during its rise to power and its sudden demise.