Govt OKs probe into councillors<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Home Affairs and Regional Autonomy
\nSurjadi Soedirdja has sent a letter of approval required by the
\nJakarta Prosecutor's Office to question six city councillors in
\nconnection with the alleged misuse of funds belonging to PT
\nPembangunan Jaya Ancol (PJA).<\/p>\n
Surjadi also pledged support for the investigation into the
\nscandal, which centers around the disbursement of Rp 2.1 billion
\nbelonging to PJA without the governor's consent to finance three
\noverseas trips of 45 city officials and councillors last October.<\/p>\n
\"I have signed the letter of approval, and if the prosecutor's
\noffice asks for another letter, I will be ready to meet the
\nrequest. I have no problem with that,\" Surjadi said on the
\nsidelines of a hearing with the House of Representatives
\nCommission II for law and home affairs here on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
According to Law No. 4\/1999, questioning of regional
\ncouncillors in connection with criminal cases requires the
\napproval of the minister of home affairs.<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office has completed its preliminary
\ninvestigation into the alleged scam by questioning 18 city
\nofficials connected with the case. The investigation results are
\nscheduled to be announced on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
PJA director Rushadi said on Tuesday he was ready to undergo a
\nformal investigation into the case as long as the Jakarta
\nProsecutor's Office could provide enough evidence.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso has blamed Rushadi for disbursing the money
\nwithout his approval as PJA's chief commissioner.<\/p>\n
Rushadi has refused to comment on Sutiyoso's remarks.<\/p>\n
Separately, City Planning Agency head Ahmaddin Ahmad defended
\nhis participation in the overseas trips, claiming to have
\nreceived the governor's approval.<\/p>\n
\"I followed the rules. So any speculation about my role in the
\nscandal is not true,\" said Ahmaddin on the sidelines of a seminar
\non city planning on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
When asked about the possibility of being named a suspect by
\nthe Jakarta Prosecutor's Office, Ahmaddin was tightlipped.
\n(04\/07\/dja)<\/p>",
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