Former council speaker to stand trial<\/p>\n
Ainur R. Sophiaan, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya, East Java<\/p>\n
Former Surabaya Council speaker M. Basuki could be jailed for
\nup to 20 years for the alleged embezzlement of Rp 2.7 billion
\n(about US$303,000) in state funds, prosecutors said during the
\nopening day of his trial in Surabaya on Monday.<\/p>\n
Prosecutor Udjijono told the Surabaya District Court that
\nBasuki abused his position as speaker to embezzle money from the
\ncity budget between December 2000 and March 2001.<\/p>\n
"Based on investigation results, it has become very clear that
\nthe defendant has caused losses to the state amounting to Rp 2.7
\nbillion," Udjijono said.<\/p>\n
His deputy Ali Burhan and Surabaya's former secretary M. Yasin
\nface the same charges but are being tried separately.<\/p>\n
Udjijono said investigators found numerous receipts and
\nminutes of meeting papers that showed Basuki disbursed money from
\nthe city budget for illegitimate purposes.<\/p>\n
In embezzling the funds, he said Basuki acted alone as well as
\nin cooperation with fellow councillors or former secretary Yasin.<\/p>\n
A former councillor of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
\nStruggle (PDI-Perjuangan), Basuki enriched himself with Rp 218
\nmillion from the city budget, the prosecutor said. Ali received
\nRp 98 million and Yasin Rp 75 million.<\/p>\n
The head of the council's finance office received another Rp
\n5.9 million and the council's 45 members obtained Rp 2.2 billion.<\/p>\n
The council members have returned the money but are not facing
\ncorruption charges.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors charged Basuki with violating Law No 20\/2001 on
\ncorruption, which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years prison.<\/p>\n
Unusual for the first hearing of a trial, Basuki's defense
\nteam immediately read out their response to the charges.<\/p>\n
According to them, the charges were void as prosecutors were
\nunable to tell when Basuki acted alone and when he cooperated
\nwith somebody else in committing the crimes. This lack of clarity
\nobscured the charges and thus rendered them void, they claimed.<\/p>\n
"We must consider that the defendant acted neither on his
\nbehalf nor that of a company, but as a representative of an
\ninstitution," said one of Basuki's lawyers, Eka Iskandar, in the
\ntrial which will be continued on Thursday next week.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have held Basuki under detention since February
\n25. The former council speaker said his arrest was politically
\nmotivated following an internal dispute among the party's elite
\nin Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The case followed the council's failed attempt to oust
\nSurabaya mayor Bambang Dwi Hartono last year.<\/p>\n
Councillors sought to remove the mayor just three days after
\nhe took over the post from Sunarto Sumoprawiro. Sunarto himself
\nwas sacked by the council.<\/p>\n
The graft scandal has also tarnished the image of the 45-
\nmember council, where PDI Perjuangan and PKB are the two largest
\nfactions, with 22 seats and 18 seats respectively.<\/p>",
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