Three Cirebon council leaders stand trial on corruption charges<\/p>\n
Nana Rukmana, Cirebon, West Java<\/p>\n
After a year-long investigation, three suspects in the corruption
\ncase involving the 2001 Cirebon budget went on trial on Monday.<\/p>\n
The opening hearing was marred by protests held by hundreds of
\nsupporters of the three defendants: Cirebon municipal council
\nspeaker Suryana -- who was reelected as a House of
\nRepresentatives legislator in the April 5 election -- and his two
\ndeputies, Sunaryo and Harris Sutarmin.<\/p>\n
The protest prompted local police to heighten security for the
\ntrial, presided over by judge Hardjono.<\/p>\n
In the indictment read out by prosecutors Suharja and Eman
\nSulaeman, the three defendants were accused of violating Law No.
\n31\/1999 on corruption by abusing their positions and violating
\nGovernment Decree No. 110\/2000 on council budget by embezzling Rp
\n997.8 million (US$105,031) in operational funds.<\/p>\n
The prosecution said according to the decree, the Cirebon
\nmunicipal administration should have allocated a maximum Rp 400
\nmillion in operational funds to the councillors, in proportion
\nwith a Rp 23 billion revenue.<\/p>\n
However, the 2001 Cirebon budget had allocated Rp 1.39 billion
\nto councillors.<\/p>\n
The councillors should have thus returned Rp 997.8 million to
\nthe local government, but Cirebon Council leaders instead
\ndistributed the excess fund to its 30 councillors.<\/p>\n
The prosecution said Suryana received Rp 38.8 million, Sunaryo
\nRp 38 million and Harries Sutamin Rp 44.4 million. The remaining
\n27 councillors each received between Rp 31.5 million and Rp 35.5
\nmillion.<\/p>\n
\"The councillors have violated the Anticorruption Law,\" said
\nprosecutor Suharja.<\/p>\n
After the hearing, Suryana told reporters that the prosecution
\nwas biased, as the Cirebon administration's executive branch
\nshould also be held responsible for the corruption, for approving
\nthe 2001 budget.<\/p>\n
The trial has been adjourned until next week, when the court
\nwill hear the defense's plea.<\/p>\n
The case dates back to 2001, but came to light only last year
\nwhen the Cirebon Prosecutor's Office began investigating the
\nalleged corruption. Aside from the three now on trial, seven
\nothers from the Cirebon Council's budget committee were named
\nsuspects.<\/p>\n
However, the number of suspects could rise, as the
\nprosecutor's office is questioning 20 more councillors in
\nconnection with the case.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/three-cirebon-council-leaders-stand-trial-on-corruption-charges-1447893297",
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