Official detained, development delayed<\/p>\n
Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra<\/p>\n
The arrest of Mentawai administration secretary Ridwan Siritubui
\nin the province of West Sumatra, who is charged in a corruption
\ncase, has been blamed for the suspension of development programs
\nin the newly created regency.<\/p>\n
"It's really worrying. If Mentawai is not managed well from
\nnow, local people will surely be increasingly left behind," M.
\nBakri Tasirebeb, chairman of the Mentawai People's Consultative
\nBody (BMMM), said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
He said the disruption in development projects in the regency
\nwas related to the detention by the West Sumatra Prosecutor's
\nOffice of Ridwan who is in charge of many local development
\nprojects.<\/p>\n
Citing an example, Bakri said the planned building of Rokot
\nAirport, which is a vital transportation facility for Mentawai --
\naround 180 kilometers from the West Sumatra capital Padang, had
\nbeen called off.<\/p>\n
The plan to build a military district office in the Mentawai
\ncapital of Tua Pejat also remains unclear, he said.<\/p>\n
Also the development of a public hospital, which was planned
\nto be finished by this year, was halted.<\/p>\n
"Other vital projects, such as the development of asphalted
\nroads, have also suffered a similar fate," Bakri said.<\/p>\n
Bakri urged West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office head Holius Hosen
\nto suspend the detention of Ridwan to facilitate the Mentawai
\ndevelopment programs.<\/p>\n
Support for the temporary release of Ridwan came from the
\nMentawai regent, the regency's legislative council speaker, the
\nlocal branch of the Indonesian Chamber of Industry and Commerce
\n(Kadin) as well as student groups.<\/p>\n
In response, Hosen said on Tuesday his office would consider
\naccepting the demand for the suspension of Ridwan's arrest.<\/p>\n
Ridwan was arrested on July 9 as a key suspect in a graft case
\ninvolving Rp 24 billion (US$2.8 million) from Mentawai's 2002
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
Six other officers were also charged in the case.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/official-detained-development-delayed-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }