Mayor's suspension raises questions<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
North Sumatra Governor Tengku Rizal Nurdin questioned on Friday
\nMinister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno's decision to suspend
\nPematang Siantar Mayor Marim Purba, despite his acquittal from
\ngraft charges.<\/p>\n
\"I'm not saying the ministerial decree is fictitious because I
\nhave not yet received it. I will meet Pak Hari to verify the
\ndecree,\" Rizal told The Jakarta Post before he left for Jakarta
\nfor that purpose.<\/p>\n
The governor denied he had recommended the suspension of
\nMarim, but confirmed he had reported that the mayor was charged
\nwith corruption, involving Rp 700 million (US$82,352) last year.<\/p>\n
However, the Pematang Siantar District Court acquitted Marim
\nof all charges. Prosecutors had sought four years in prison for
\nhim in the case of the markup of the Horas market project.<\/p>\n
\"We presented the report to the home affairs minister before
\nMarim Purba was declared free by the court,\" Rizal said.<\/p>\n
He said during the meeting with Hari, he would tell him that
\nthe mayor had been acquitted of the graft charges, so that the
\nminister could reconsider the suspension.<\/p>\n
Under the prevailing law, a regent or mayor can be suspended
\nfrom office following the recommendation of a governor.<\/p>\n
Rizal admitted that he was yet to receive a copy of the
\nministerial decree suspending the mayor. Marim, who was in
\nJakarta on Friday, had not received the letter either.<\/p>\n
Despite the suspension, Marim claims he remains the legitimate
\nmayor of Pematang Siantar until he receives the decree.<\/p>\n
Officials in Rizal's office said the mayor was suspended under
\nDecree No. 132.22-528\/2003 dated Oct. 6. It was signed by Mangala
\nSihite, head of the legal study center at the Ministry of Home
\nAffairs.<\/p>\n
The decree also appointed Marin's deputy, Kurnia Rajasyah
\nSaragih, to take charge of the Pematang Siantar administration,
\nreplacing the mayor.<\/p>\n
The suspension was reportedly issued in a response to the
\nNorth Sumatra governor's letter No. 130\/7329\/2003, dated Aug. 20,
\nand a letter from leaders of the province's legislative council
\non May 21.<\/p>\n
Marin, a senior politician from Golkar, recently failed to win
\nthe election of the party's leader for Pematang Siantar, a
\nstronghold of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
\nPerjuangan) in North Sumatra.<\/p>\n
PDI Perjuangan led by President Megawati Soekarnoputri is the
\nlargest faction in the city's legislative council which is
\nchaired by a local party leader.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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