Puteh goes on trial as tsunami devastates Aceh<\/p>\n
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
As thousands of Acehnese were killed in the most devastating
\nnatural disaster in the country's history, Aceh Governor Abdullah
\nPuteh went on trial on Monday on corruption charges in Jakarta.<\/p>\n
During his first hearing at the Anticorruption Court, a team
\nof prosecutors charged the 56-year-old governor for his role in a
\nscam involving the purchase of a Russian helicopter that cost the
\nstate at least Rp 10.8 billion (US$1.2 million) in 2001.<\/p>\n
Chief prosecutor Khaidir Ramli told the court the defendant
\nhad ordered the purchase of an Mi-2 helicopter, which was not
\npart of his administration's expenditure and without the consent
\nof Aceh Provincial Legislative Council.<\/p>\n
Puteh is also charged with illegally slashing Rp 700 million
\noff the state budget allocated for each of 13 regental and
\nmunicipal administrations in the province to pay for the
\nhelicopter.<\/p>\n
According to the charges, Puteh deposited Rp 4 billion of the
\nAceh provincial budget in his personal bank account.<\/p>\n
Puteh illegally diverted Rp 35 billion from routine spending
\nand Rp 9.1 billion from the special funds allocated by the
\ncentral government for the regional administrations in Aceh, the
\nteam of prosecutors said.<\/p>\n
\"The defendant is charged under Article 2 paragraph 1 of Law
\nNo 31\/1999 on corruption eradication,\" Khaidir said. The crime
\ncarries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.<\/p>\n
Wearing a dark suit and kopiah (Muslim cap), Puteh read a
\nprepared speech outlining his personal objection to the
\nindictment.<\/p>\n
During the hearing led by Judge Krishna Menon, dozens of
\nspectators applauded when Puteh said the indictment was obscure.<\/p>\n
Outside the courtroom in a hall on the ground floor of Upindo
\nBuilding on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta, dozens of people
\ndemanded Puteh's release.<\/p>\n
\"It was my policy that Aceh remain a part of the Unitary State
\nof Indonesia,\" Puteh said, insisting that no procedures were
\nviolated in the purchase of the helicopter.<\/p>\n
Puteh also asked the panel of judges to postpone his trial,
\npending a verdict from the Constitutional Court for a judicial
\nreview request against the law on the Corruption Eradication
\nCommission (KPK) by businessman Bram HD Manoppo.<\/p>\n
Bram, whose company brokered the helicopter deal, has also
\nbeen named a suspect by the KPK in the case. He demanded the
\njudicial review on the grounds that the KPK, which was set up in
\n2002, had no authority to investigate a case that took place in
\n2001.<\/p>\n
Puteh claimed he did not cut the regental budget in Aceh,
\nsaying that the regents had voluntarily allocated Rp 700 million
\neach for the purchase of the helicopter, which was needed to help
\nPuteh move swiftly from one place to another to monitor
\ndevelopments in the restive province.<\/p>\n
Puteh's wife Linda Poernomo and father-in-law Bambang Poernomo
\nattended the hearing.<\/p>\n
After the hearing Puteh prayed for an end to prolonged armed
\nconflict in the province and his trial.<\/p>\n
Linda, Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso as the chair of the
\nAssociation of Governors, and Puteh's lawyers have offered their
\npersonal guarantee that Puteh will not flee, in order that he be
\nreleased from detention during the trial.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/puteh-goes-on-trial-as-tsunami-devastates-aceh-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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