Depok graft suspects dodge summons<\/p>\n
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Two suspects of an alleged Rp 9 billion (US$100,000) graft case
\ninvolving Depok Council members managed to dodge their second
\npolice summons on Friday.<\/p>\n
This time, the military members argued the police had no right
\nto question them.<\/p>\n
Lt. Col. Saliman Mireja and Lt. Col. (ret) Ali Sumaris
\nSudamasa, former Depok councillors for the 1999-2004 period, are
\namong 22 suspects named in the case.<\/p>\n
For no clear reason, the two failed to appear after their
\nfirst summons on Sept. 14. Another suspect, former councillor
\nManahan Erwin Limbong, who was also a no-show that day, explained
\nthat he was recovering from a stroke.<\/p>\n
Head of Jakarta Police's anticorruption division Adj. Sr.
\nComr. Anton Wahono said on Friday that Saliman Mireja's lawyer
\nhad told the police that his client preferred to be questioned by
\nhis military superiors.<\/p>\n
\"We will let the superiors of the suspect take necessary
\nmeasures ... We won't summons him again,\" he added.<\/p>\n
Anton said the other suspect was actually a retired officer
\nbut, through the same lawyer, he had argued that he was an active
\nmilitary officer at the time in question.<\/p>\n
\"Obviously, there are differences in how we look into this
\nmatter. So we have delayed the questioning of him until after the
\nSept. 20 election,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Anton added the police would not send a final third summons
\nbut use force to take the suspect to the police headquarters for
\nquestioning.<\/p>\n
According to Criminal Court procedures, the police are
\nauthorized to use force if a suspect fails to show up after being
\nsummoned twice.<\/p>\n
In its preliminary investigation, the Jakarta Police named 22
\nsuspects who allegedly schemed to misuse the council's 2002
\nbudget for their personal expenses.<\/p>\n
The case involved all 45 council members and the council
\nsecretary.<\/p>\n
The police detained 19 suspects; seven since Sept. 6 and 12
\nsince Sept. 14.<\/p>\n
One of the detained suspects is military officer Lt. Col.
\n(ret) Moch. Amin.<\/p>\n
Each of the 45 Council members and the secretary allegedly
\nreceived Rp 83 million to cover, among other things, their life
\ninsurance premiums, property loans, private car maintenance and
\ngasoline.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/depok-graft-suspects-dodge-summons-1447893297",
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