Banten governor quizzed over graft<\/p>\n
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang<\/p>\n
Banten Governor Djoko Munandar was questioned as witness in a
\ngraft case on Thursday at the prosecutor's office, which has
\ntightened its security following several threatening phone calls
\nto the office.<\/p>\n
The prosecutors posed questions related to the disbursement of
\nabout Rp 13.5 billion (US$1.5 million) to the Banten councillors
\nlast year. Five former councillors have been named suspects for
\nallegedly misusing the money but only four have been detained.<\/p>\n
"We would like to know the Governor's role in this case
\nbecause he holds the authority over financial matters," chief
\nprosecutor Kemas Yahya Rachman said.<\/p>\n
Investigation head AK Basuni Masyarif said it was still too
\nearly to accuse Djoko of involvement in the misuse of the funds.
\nOf the money, taken from the administration's reserve fund, Rp 10
\nbillion was allotted to build a housing compound for councillors
\nand another Rp 3.5 billion was for councillors' welfare. The
\nmoney was taken from the administration's reserve fund.<\/p>\n
When new council members started work in October, no work had
\nbeen done on the housing compound.<\/p>\n
Non-governmental organizations the South Banten Community
\nAssociation (HIMBAS) and Western Java Forum (Forbaja) then
\nreported the case to the prosecutors and urged for an
\ninvestigation.<\/p>\n
The four councillors who have been detained are former council
\nspeaker Dharmono K. Lawi, his former deputy Muslim Jamaludin,
\ncouncil secretary Tardian and former budget committee secretary
\nTuti Sutiah Indra.<\/p>\n
The other suspect, the former deputy speaker who has been
\nreelected, Mufrodi Muchsin, remains free as the prosecutor's
\noffice has been unable to obtain the consent from central
\ngovernment to question an active councillor.<\/p>\n
It was not until after they detained councillors, that
\nprosecutors started to receive threat calls, they said.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post observed that metal detectors had been
\ninstalled around the office building while all vehicles entering
\nthe office, on Jl. Raya Serang-Pandeglang, were tightly examined.<\/p>\n
"I don't want to exaggerate things, but we have to stay alert
\nfollowing the arson attack on the house of the head of the
\nBengkulu prosecutor's office, Rusdi Taher, who is also handling a
\ncorruption case involving former councillors," Kemas said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/banten-governor-quizzed-over-graft-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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