Sutiyoso cooperates with police in fraud case<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The police questioned Governor Sutiyoso on Tuesday as a witness
\nin the alleged embezzlement of Rp 4.2 billion in flood relief
\nfunds by the Institute of Civic Education (ICE) on Indonesia<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso was accorded special treatment by the police, being
\nquestioned in the waiting room of Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen.
\nMakbul Patmanagara, rather than in the interrogation room in
\nwhich most witnesses find themselves.<\/p>\n
The police had planned to question Sutiyoso at his office in
\nCity Hall, but Sutiyoso said he preferred to be questioned at the
\npolice headquarters.<\/p>\n
Although the law says that being a witness in a criminal case
\nis an obligation not a choice, police spokesman Sr. Comr. Anton
\nBachrul Alam, who had said it was not necessary for Sutiyoso to
\nvisit police headquarters, expressed gratitude for Sutiyoso's
\nwillingness to be questioned.<\/p>\n
\"We thank God that he (Sutiyoso), as the governor, is willing
\nto appear at police headquarters to be questioned by our
\ninvestigators. It is an honor for us and we appreciate it,\" Anton
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso and the city police have a \"good relationship\", and
\nseveral times the police have approached the administration for
\nextra funds for equipment, including a global positioning system
\nand 86 cars.<\/p>\n
Last week the administration approved the release of Rp 3
\nbillion for bomb detectors.<\/p>\n
The total budget from the city administration for the police
\nthis year is Rp 20 billion.<\/p>\n
The police asked the governor 41 questions on Tuesday and
\nSutiyoso only needed about an hour and a half to answer them. The
\nquestioning reportedly went smoothly and the police did not make
\nan issue out of Sutiyoso's decision to divert the flood-relief
\nfunds into an education fund managed by ICE on Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The NGO claims to have disbursed Rp 600 million of the Rp 4.2
\nbillion raised in March during a charity night for victims of the
\nfloods that swept through the city in January and February this
\nyear.<\/p>\n
The 41 questions focused on the alleged misuse of the Rp 600
\nmillion and the banking interest earned on the rest of the money.
\nThe police have so far named the organization's treasurer,
\nHendrawan, a suspect in the case.<\/p>\n
\"My assumption is that there are irregularities in the use of
\nthe funds, which Hendrawan could not explain to the police. But
\nfurther investigation is still needed to prove this,\" Jakarta
\nPolice chief Makbul said.<\/p>\n
Makbul said Hendrawan could not explain how the Rp 600 million
\nwas used. Hendrawan is in police detention, while ICE on
\nIndonesia chairwoman Irma Hutabarat has not been named a suspect
\nand remains free.<\/p>\n
During questioning, Sutiyoso said the city administration had
\nreleased Rp 274 billion to help the flood victims.<\/p>\n
But many flood victims claim to have received no aid from the
\nadministration.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/sutiyoso-cooperates-with-police-in-fraud-case-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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