Top officials charged in ship scam<\/p>\n
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar, South Sulawesi<\/p>\n
The South Sulawesi Prosecutor's Office announced on Thursday that
\nSelayar Regent Muhammad Akib Patta and the speaker of the
\nregency's legislative council, Ince Langke, were suspects in a
\ncorruption case.<\/p>\n
The director of PT Selayar Utama Corporation, Salewang Syamsu
\nAlang, was also named a suspect in a case involving the
\nprocurement of the passenger ferry KM Takabonerate.<\/p>\n
Chief prosecutor Alex Sato Bya said the three men were
\ndeclared suspects after his office found evidence of procedural
\nviolations in the purchase of the ferry.<\/p>\n
The ferry was bought last year for Rp 3.5 billion (US$411,764)
\nto serve the route between Selayar regency and Bulukumba regency,
\nalso in South Sulawesi. The money for the purchase came from a
\nloan from Bank Pembangunan Daerah, which is owned by the local
\nadministration.<\/p>\n
To guarantee the bank loan, the Selayar regent used money from
\nlast year's budget.<\/p>\n
However, the ferry is no longer in operation because of engine
\ntrouble it suffered just months after its purchase.<\/p>\n
Alex said prosecutors, assisted by a team of technicians from
\nHasanuddin University in Makassar, South Sulawesi, had examined
\nthe KM Takabonerate, particularly its seaworthiness.<\/p>\n
The investigators found possible irregularities in the
\nprocurement of the ferry, the condition of which did not justify
\nthe price paid for its purchase, he said.<\/p>\n
"We have ordered the Selayar Prosecutor's Office to complete
\nthe investigation into the case and take it to court. It appears
\nto be facing a hurdle, but we will go ahead with the case," Alex
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He acknowledged having proposed that Attorney General M.A.
\nRachman dismiss the head of the Selayar Prosecutor's Office for
\nfailing to deal seriously with the case.<\/p>\n
Ince Langke said he was surprised to be charged in the case,
\nsaying he was never questioned by police or prosecutors in
\nconnection with the purchase of the ferry.<\/p>\n
"The decision does not make sense. How can I be a suspect even
\nthough I was never investigated?" he asked.<\/p>\n
Ince said prosecutors could not charge him because he gave the
\nSelayar regent approval to buy the ship using a bank loan on
\nbehalf of the local legislature, not as an individual.<\/p>\n
The approval was issued after having been discussed in a
\nmeeting attended by all of the factions in the council, he said.<\/p>\n
"Therefore, if the approval is considered irregular, all of
\nthe members of the council should be named suspects, not only
\nme."<\/p>\n
Ince also said he was not directly involved in the ship's
\npurchase, which, according to him, was done at the request of
\nlocals.<\/p>\n
South Sulawesi Governor Amin Syam said he had yet to receive a
\nrequest from prosecutors to summon the suspects for questioning,
\nbut promised that he would approve the request.<\/p>\n
He said he believed the corruption charges against the three
\nofficials in Selayar were supported by "strong reasons".<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/top-officials-charged-in-ship-scam-1447893297",
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