Clarification sought on governor's status

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Councillors in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) province are demanding an explanation from the police over the naming of NTT Governor Piet Tallo as a suspect in a corruption case.

Speaker of the NTT provincial council Melkianus Adoe said that the council would invite NTT police chief Brig. Gen. Edward Aritonang to explain why the police changed Tallo's status from suspect to merely a witness in the case.

Recently, Aritonang had said in a discussion on corruption in Kupang that Tallo was a witness in the graft case. Two years ago, however, former chief of Kupang police Adj. Sr. Comr. Victor Simanjuntak had named Tallo as a suspect.

Tallo was allegedly involved in embezzling funds meant for the provision of hospital medical equipment in NTT between 2002 and 2003, causing losses of Rp 15 billion of taxpayers money.

"Aritonang has to explain the status of the governor to councillors," said Melkianus. -- JP