Suspended mayor refuses to hand over post<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra<\/p>\n
Marim Purba, who was suspended as mayor of Pematang Siantar
\nmunicipality in North Sumatra, despite his acquittal of graft
\ncharges, shunned a meeting in which he was to have transferred
\nthe post to his deputy Kurnia Rajasa Saragih on Friday.<\/p>\n
The ceremony, held in a closed-door meeting at the City Hall,
\nwas only attended by around 20 local officials, including the
\nhead of the municipality's administrative affairs, Akhir Harahap.<\/p>\n
Those present included deputy speaker of the Pematang Siantar
\nlegislative council Suwardi, Sr. Comr. M. Zien who represented
\nthe local police chief and R. Nainggolan, representing the local
\nprosecutor's office.<\/p>\n
But, in an move that seemed to oppose Marim's suspension,
\nNorth Sumatra Governor Tengku Rizal Nurdin did not show up at the
\nmeeting. Normally, the governor swears in the mayor or regent
\nelected by the local legislative council.<\/p>\n
Earlier on Thursday, at least 116 key officials of the
\nPematang Siantar administration rejected Marim's suspension and
\ndeclared that he was still the legitimate mayor.<\/p>\n
But Suwardi told the Jakarta Post after the event that, \"The
\ntransfer-of-post ceremony was smooth and legal, even though it
\nwas not attended by Marim Purba, as he was officially invited.\"<\/p>\n
He said that decree No. 132.22-528 dated Oct. 6, 2003 had been
\nread out at the ceremony. The decree issued by Minister of Home
\nAffairs Hari Sabarno orders the suspension of Marim and appoints
\nKurnia as his replacement.<\/p>\n
Kurnia then signed a document on the transfer of the post,
\nSuwardi added.<\/p>\n
Responding to the ceremony, Marim claimed he remains the
\nlegitimate mayor until after the North Sumatra governor endorses
\nhis suspension.<\/p>\n
However, it is not clear whether he will continue in his
\ncapacity as mayor after the ceremony.<\/p>\n
In fact, as the ceremony was taking place, Marim was
\napparently officiating an event in the town as the mayor.<\/p>\n
He said that he and Kurnia would meet the governor to discuss
\nthe ministerial decree.<\/p>\n
Marim was temporarily dismissed after he was incriminated in
\nthe markup of the Horas market construction project involving Rp
\n700 million (US$82,352) last year. However, a district court
\nrecently acquitted him of charges of corruption.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/suspended-mayor-refuses-to-hand-over-post-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}