Puteh set to be replaced: Minister<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Bandung\/Jakarta<\/p>\n
Interim chief security minister Hari Sabarno confirmed on
\nSaturday the government had made plans to replace Aceh Governor
\nAbdullah Puteh in order for him to face corruption
\ninvestigations.<\/p>\n
The decision to replace Puteh in his capacity as the
\nprovince's civil emergency administrator hinged on a presidential
\ndecree relieving Puteh of his governorship, Hari said after
\naddressing Public Administration Institute graduates in Semedang,
\nWest Java.<\/p>\n
\"I have had to prepare several alternatives (as candidates for
\ngovernor) to ensure that Aceh's civil emergency administration
\nwill not be hampered by the investigations into the governor,\"
\nHari said.<\/p>\n
He did not say if Puteh would be permanently removed or
\nsuspended as governor.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Friday, a source from President Megawati
\nSoekarnoputri's inner circle revealed she was considering two
\npeople as replacements for Puteh's job. The replacement would be
\nannounced some time next week, the source said.<\/p>\n
The two people were a former minister and a former governor,
\nthe source said without identifying them.<\/p>\n
However, Hari said possible candidates to replace Puteh could
\nalso come from be members of the Aceh consultative leadership
\nboard (Muspida), including the provincial military or police
\nchief or the head of the local prosecutors office.<\/p>\n
\"Because the civil emergency administration is the collective
\nresponsibility of the board, one member could take over (Puteh's)
\njob temporarily if it was deemed necessary,\" the minister said.<\/p>\n
Hari said the government would replace Puteh to allow the
\nCorruption Eradication Commission (KPK) more time to investigate
\nhim.<\/p>\n
The commission questioned the embattled governor for a third
\nconsecutive day on Friday over the alleged markup in the price of
\na Russian-made Mi-2 helicopter. The deal was estimated to have
\ncost the state Rp 4 billion (US$440,000) in losses.<\/p>\n
A source close to the KPK said on Saturday the commission was
\nscheduled to meet Megawati on Monday regarding its order for her
\nto suspend Puteh.<\/p>\n
\"Yes, we have received an invitation from the State Palace for
\ntalks where KPK leaders would explain the order to the
\npresident,\" the source told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
The source said KPK leaders had already met with Hari and
\nState Secretary Bambang Kesowo on Friday to discuss the issue.<\/p>\n
\"Basically, the KPK leadership explained the order was merely
\nbased on the law and said it had nothing to do with politics,\"
\nthe source said.<\/p>\n
Megawati last week said she could not accept the KPK's
\nsuspension order. As president, Megawati said she was only
\nauthorized by the law to \"appoint\" and \"dismiss\" regional
\nadministration heads.<\/p>\n
In her campaign last month, however, Megawati vowed to make
\nPuteh a \"non-active\" governor while he was under investigation.<\/p>\n
The National Police have also established a corruption case
\nagainst Puteh over his alleged involvement in the alleged markup
\nin the prices of new power generators, which caused estimated
\nstate losses of Rp 30 billion.<\/p>\n
A team of police investigators led by the National Police
\nchief of detectives, Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung, met KPK members
\non Friday to share information on Puteh.<\/p>\n
Suyitno said the police would summon Puteh for the second time
\nregarding the power generator scandal. Puteh could be declared a
\nsuspect in the case if sufficient evidence was found, he said.<\/p>\n
Puteh has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing in both cases. He
\nsaid the purchase of the helicopter by his administration had
\nbeen endorsed by the Aceh legislative council.<\/p>\n
There was no need to hold a tender for the purchase, he said,
\nciting Presidential Decree No. 18\/2000. The decree allows
\nadministrations to skip the tendering process for goods valued at
\nmore than Rp 5 billion in cases of emergency or when buying
\n\"sensitive\" materials, including explosives.<\/p>\n
Puteh said he had decided to buy an assault helicopter because
\nsuch as aircraft was needed to help crush Free Aceh Movement
\n(GAM) separatists.<\/p>\n
The armed helicopter was used to transport local officials,
\nincluding Puteh, around the province. It was brought for Rp 12.2
\nbillion, more than twice the price the Navy reportedly paid for
\nthe same type of aircraft.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/puteh-set-to-be-replaced-minister-1447893297",
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