KPK seeks to quiz Puteh on graft cases<\/p>\n
Nani Farida, The Jakarta Post, Banda Aceh, Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam<\/p>\n
The newly formed national anticorruption body is seeking to
\nquestion Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh for his
\nalleged role in graft cases as local authorities have been wholly
\nunable to summon him.<\/p>\n
\"We are here to find out what is hampering the local law
\nenforcers (in questioning the governor), while the evidence
\nappears to be more than sufficient,\" Corruption Eradication
\nCommission (KPK) head Taufieqqurrahman Ruki said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He was speaking to journalists after a meeting with martial
\nlaw leaders, ulemas, community figures and non-governmental
\norganization activists at the Iskandar Muda military headquarters
\nin Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
His visit was aimed at gathering data and information on
\nrampant cases of corruption that allegedly involve Puteh.<\/p>\n
Taufieqqurrahman said the KPK would directly take over the
\nquestioning of the Aceh governor if the martial law authorities
\nwere unable to summon him.<\/p>\n
Sources at the military headquarters told The Jakarta Post
\nthat the martial law administration was seeking permission from
\nPresident Megawati Soekarnoputri to grill Puteh, but that she had
\nnot responded.<\/p>\n
Taufieqqurrahman said his commission would push Megawati to
\ngrant permission to the Aceh authorities or that the KPK would
\ndirectly summon and question the governor.<\/p>\n
The KPK has the authority to summon alleged corrupters without
\nnecessarily asking for presidential permission, he added.<\/p>\n
During Tuesday's meeting, the participants demanded that the
\nmartial law administration immediately begin a corruption probe.<\/p>\n
Local sociologist Ahmad Humam Hamid said during the meeting
\nthat corruption in Aceh was completely out of control and was a
\nbigger problem than the armed separatist rebels. \"During the
\n2002-2004 period, some Rp 20 trillion (US$2.3 billion) has been
\nchanneled to Aceh, but the use of the funds is not clear.\"<\/p>\n
Corruption is more dangerous in Aceh than the separatist
\nmovement (GAM) that has been fighting for independence since
\n1970s, he added.<\/p>\n
\"If corruption cases cannot be resolved, Aceh is prepared to
\nbreak away from the Republic of Indonesia.\" Humam said.<\/p>\n
Puteh announced publicly last week in Banda Aceh that he was
\nready to face a corruption investigation, but little has been
\ndone since.<\/p>\n
Rumors had spread that the local authorities would summon the
\ngovernor after they were investigating his administration's
\nfinance bureau head, TM Lizam, for the latter's alleged
\ninvolvement in the misuse of Rp 30 billion for electricity
\nequipment.<\/p>\n
Based on a report obtained by the Post, the Aceh Prosecutor's
\nOffice was investigating Puteh's alleged roles in three
\ncorruption cases including the purchase of a Russian-made MI-2
\nhelicopter.<\/p>\n
\"The Aceh administration has allegedly marked up the
\nhelicopter's price from Rp 6.1 billion to Rp 12.6 billion,\" the
\nreport said.<\/p>\n
It also stated that the governor allegedly bribed 53 Aceh
\ncouncillors with Rp 75 million each to endorse the purchase of
\nthe marked up chopper.<\/p>\n
Puteh is also accused of corruption in the purchase of a used-
\nprinting press worth Rp 4.2 billion, but the machine was
\ninoperable.<\/p>\n
On Monday, martial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya
\nsaid that Lizam and electricity equipment contractor, identified
\nonly as William, would be handed over to police on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
But by noon the suspects had not been in contact with the
\ninvestigators.<\/p>\n
Also questioned in the Rp 30 billion graft case was Aceh
\ntransportation office head Usman Budiman to shed more light on
\nLizam's confession.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kpk-seeks-to-quiz-puteh-on-graft-cases-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}