Regent acquitted of graft charges<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Surabaya<\/p>\n
The district court in Surabaya, East Java, acquitted a regent and
\ntwo others of corruption charges, saying there was not enough
\nevidence to convict the suspects.<\/p>\n
Following the court session on Thursday, Sampang Regent
\nFadhilah Budiono met with his supporters and gave them money
\ninside envelopes for their support during the trial.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges, presided over by Wiempi Sekewael, said in
\nits decision that the regent and two other defendants were being
\nacquitted because government prosecutors failed to present
\nconvincing evidence against them.<\/p>\n
"There is no proof that the defendants embezzled subsidized
\nrice meant for 3,500 poor families and refugees in Sampang. It is
\nnot certain whether the rice was distributed by Mohammad
\nAminudin, owner of rice distributor CV Amin Jaya in the regency,"
\nthe judges ruled.<\/p>\n
The panel of judges also said that a number of subdistrict
\nchiefs testified that the regent coordinated with all of the
\nsubdistrict chiefs prior to the distribution of the rice.<\/p>\n
Fadhilah, along with Aminuddin and Asyhar, Sampang
\nadministration secretary, were charged with embezzling 721 of 989
\ntons of subsidized rice earmarked for poor families and refugees
\nin the regency between August 1999 and January 2000, causing Rp
\n1.6 billion in state losses.<\/p>\n
The three suspects were charged after a local group opposed to
\nFadhilah reported the alleged embezzlement to the local police
\nand government prosecutor's office.<\/p>\n
Some Sampang residents demanded that Fadhilah not be seated
\nfor a second term of office until the case was heard in court.<\/p>\n
However, home minister Hari Sabarno ordered East Java Governor
\nImam Utomo to swear in the regent, saying that the regent would
\nbe dismissed if he was found guilty of the corruption charges.<\/p>\n
The regent's installment caused a violent clash between
\nresidents supporting Fadhilah and those opposing him.<\/p>\n
Government prosecutor Amiruddin Patja said he was considering
\nwhether to appeal the district court's decision to a higher
\ncourt.<\/p>\n
Numerous residents opposed to Fadhilah attended the court
\nsession, holding banners demanding the judges sentence the
\ndefendants to jail.<\/p>\n
Fadhilah met with supporters following the decision and gave
\neach of them Rp 150,000 in appreciation for their support.<\/p>\n
"They came here on their own initiative and supported me as I
\nfaced these charges," he said.<\/p>\n
He also pledged that he would not take retaliatory action
\nagainst those who filed the complaint against him and those
\nopposed to his leadership.<\/p>\n
"Let's end the political friction and develop a better
\nfuture," he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/regent-acquitted-of-graft-charges-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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