Abdullah Puteh faces dismissal, loss of assets<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Suspended Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh will pay dearly for his
\nconviction in a graft case as he faces imminent dismissal and
\nwill have his assets seized.<\/p>\n
Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said on Friday he would
\nofficially ask President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to dismiss
\nPuteh following the Supreme Court's verdict that sentenced him to
\n10 years in prison last month. The court also fined him Rp 500
\nmillion (US$50,000) and ordered him to pay Rp 6.56 billion in
\nrestitution to the state.<\/p>\n
"We'll soon send a letter (on Puteh's dismissal) to the
\nPresident," Ma'ruf told The Jakarta Post after a Cabinet meeting
\nat the presidential office.<\/p>\n
If the President endorses the minister's request, Puteh will
\nbe the first governor to get his marching orders from the head of
\nstate in the country's history due to a corruption case.<\/p>\n
Ma'ruf said he recommended that Puteh's suspension be made
\npermanent because the governor's tenure would expire next month.<\/p>\n
"Aceh is expected to hold a (direct) gubernatorial election in
\nthe near future," Ma'ruf said.<\/p>\n
Puteh's dismissal is a formality as he has in practice been
\nstripped of his powers since last December after President Susilo
\nBambang Yudhoyono suspended him. The President then named Puteh's
\ndeputy Azwar Abubakar acting governor.<\/p>\n
The dismissal complies with Law No.32\/2004 on regional
\nadministration, which requires the president to dismiss a
\nregional administration head without consulting the local
\nlegislature if he or she has been convicted by the Supreme Court
\nwhose decision is final and binding. The administrative
\npunishment is restricted to criminal offenses that carry a
\nminimum jail sentence of five years.<\/p>\n
Puteh was found guilty by the district and appeal courts of
\nenriching himself and abusing his power in the purchase of a
\nRussian-made helicopter for the Aceh administration in 2001. The
\nCorruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which prosecuted Puteh,
\nestimated the state losses resulting from the mark-up at Rp 10
\nbillion.<\/p>\n
KPK said it was preparing to confiscate Puteh's assets
\nfollowing the Supreme Court's ruling that required the governor
\nto pay back in five years the state money he embezzled.<\/p>\n
"He once said he would return the state money all at once, but
\nlater he asked us to allow him to pay in installments over five
\nyears," KPK prosecutor Haidir Ramli said.<\/p>\n
Haidir said the KPK would seize Puteh's assets soon, but
\nrefused to say exactly when.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have listed Puteh's assets, which are worth more
\nthan Rp 6.5 billion, Haidir said.<\/p>\n
Puteh may face another conviction in connection with the bribe
\noffered by his lawyer to help him win his appeal filed with the
\nJakarta High Court.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors demanded four years imprisonment for the lawyer,
\nTengku "Popon" Syaifuddin, who is charged with paying Rp 250
\nmillion to the court officials.<\/p>",
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