JP\/4\/regents<\/p>\n
SBY's graft war goes national as governors become suspects<\/p>\n
Abdul Khalik and
\nSyofiardi Bachyul Jb
\nThe Jakarta Post\/Jakarta\/Padang<\/p>\n
After several dozen local legislators across the country were
\nconvicted for corruption, police and prosecutors were currently
\ntargeting local administration heads in their fight against
\nendemic corruption.<\/p>\n
Those on the graft hit list include several governors,
\nincluding Zainal Bakar of West Sumatra, at least one mayor and
\nthree regents with pledges of more to be named in the next few
\nweeks.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors have declared Zainal a suspect for his alleged
\ninvolvement in the same collective Rp 6.4 billion (US$680,851)
\nembezzlement case that saw 43 councillors imprisoned recently.<\/p>\n
Forty-three councillors were prosecuted in that case back in
\nJuly, with the Padang District Court sentencing them to between
\n24 and 27 months for their roles in embezzling the money from the
\n2002 provincial budget.<\/p>\n
West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office chief Antasari Azhar said on
\nSaturday his office had filed a request on Oct. 25 with President
\nSusilo Bambang Yudhoyono to question the governor.<\/p>\n
Presidential permission is required for police and prosecutors
\nto summon a senior state official for questioning.<\/p>\n
\"Hopefully, the President will give us the green light to
\nquestion Zainal after Ramadhan. It is already the policy of the
\nnew government to complete the handling of all cases in
\nprosecutors' offices,\" Antasari said in Padang, the capital city
\nof West Sumatra.<\/p>\n
He said the governor was allegedly implicated by the
\ncouncillors' testimony during their trial. They were convicted of
\noverstating their telephone charges, house rental costs and
\ninsurance.<\/p>\n
Separately, presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng announced
\non Saturday that Susilo had signed letters approving police
\nrequests to question Badrul Kamal, the mayor of Depok in West
\nJava, Syamsul Hadi, the regent of Banyuwangi in East Java, and
\nAnsel Petru Youw, the regent of Nabire in Papua.<\/p>\n
Badrul is accused of embezzling Rp 9.4 billion from Depok's
\nbudgets from 1999 to 2004, and Rp 34.9 billion from its regional
\ndevelopment funds.<\/p>\n
Syamsul allegedly transferred Rp 251 million to his personal
\naccount from Banyuwangi's budget, while Ansel is charged with
\nabusing his position as a regent and getting involved in
\ncorruption during his previous job as the Nabire education and
\nculture office head.<\/p>\n
Also, Attorney General's Office (AGO) spokesman RJ Soehandojo
\nsaid West Kalimantan prosecutors were now investigating Pontianak
\nRegent Cornelius Kimha for his alleged involvement in a Rp 2.2
\nbillion graft case.<\/p>\n
\"We are now dealing with several cases involving regents,
\nincluding Pontianak Regent Cornelius Kimha, and governors,\" said
\nSoehandojo.<\/p>\n
National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung
\nSudjono confirmed on Saturday that his office had received
\npermission from President Susilo and that they would soon deliver
\nthem to the provincial police offices that would be handling the
\ngraft cases of Badrul Kamal, Syamsul Hadi and Ansel Petru Youw.<\/p>\n
\"The provincial police will summon them immediately after
\nreceiving the permission letters. We hope that they will question
\nthem this week,\" added Suyitno.<\/p>\n
National Police director of the corruption crimes division,
\nBrig. Gen. Indarto said that apart from the mayor and the two
\nregents, the police were also waiting for permission from the
\nPresident to question several more regents and governors across
\nthe country.<\/p>\n
\"Based on requests from provincial police, we have submitted
\nletters to the President asking for approval to summon several
\nmore regents and governors. We hope we can have them as soon as
\npossible,\" said Indarto.<\/p>\n
He declined to reveal any names, saying only that there were
\ntoo many to remember. However, he hinted that one of them was a
\nsenior official from North Maluku province.<\/p>\n
Several governors, regents and mayors have joined a growing
\nlist of accused officials, mostly local councillors, as
\nIndonesia, named by watchdog Transparency International as one of
\nthe world's most corrupt countries, attempts to root out graft.<\/p>\n
President Susilo recently announced he would lead the national
\ndrive against corruption.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/jp4regents-1447899208",
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