Lampung councillors named corruption suspects<\/p>\n
Oyos Saroso HN, The Jakarta Post, Bandar Lampung, Lampung<\/p>\n
Three councillors were declared suspects on Monday for the
\nalleged misuse of Rp 19.5 billion (US$2.4 million) from the
\nLampung 2001 provincial budget.<\/p>\n
The three suspects are: chairman of the budget committee Abdul
\nAzib Zanim of the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, committee
\nsecretary Tan Gatot Mahawisnu of the National Awakening Party
\n(PKB) faction and council budget commission member Fauzi Saleh of
\nthe Golkar Party faction.<\/p>\n
The head of the investigating team from the Lampung
\nProsecutor's Office, Darmono, said the three had been declared
\nsuspects because they had arranged the budget. He also said it
\nwas possible that 72 other councillors would be declared
\nsuspects.<\/p>\n
Previously, the head of the prosecutor's office, I Putu Kusa,
\nhad discontinued the investigation into the case due to a lack of
\nevidence, plus the prosecutor's office apparently had a backlog
\nof more important cases.<\/p>\n
Reports from the Lampung Development Finance Comptroller said
\nthe amount of misused funds were Rp 23.5 billion.<\/p>\n
But Darmono rejected the comptroller's report, saying the
\nprosecutor's office found that only Rp 19.5 billion was misused.<\/p>\n
Lampung council speaker Abbas Hadisunyoto said that there were
\nsome allocations in the budget that were not governed by
\nGovernment Regulation No. 110\/2000 on the budget.<\/p>\n
"But that's not corruption," he said.<\/p>\n
Most legislators supported Abbas, saying there was no
\ncorruption involved during budget discussions.<\/p>\n
Home minister Hari Sabarno has supported the investigation and
\nhas said he would provide the prosecutor's office with a letter
\napproving the investigation if necessary.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/lampung-councillors-named-corruption-suspects-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}