40 ex-councillors to be quizzed over graft case

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara prosecutors will question 40 former Kupang council members over their alleged involvement in a Rp 1 billion (US$107,526) corruption case.

All of the former councillors, who served between 1999 and 2004, will be quizzed as witnesses, except six who have been named as suspects in the case.

Prosecutors have handed over the case file on another former councillor, Z. Tule, to the military court. Tule is an active military officer and therefore his case will be handled by the military.

The assistant for specific crimes at the East Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor's Office, Hartadi, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday the team of investigators would be led by Herman da Silva.

He added that the team would send summons to the councillors on Monday, and that dossiers on the 40 former council members were now being scrutinized by prosecutors.

According to a preliminary investigation, prosecutors believe the former councillors set aside Rp 2.9 billion for their operational funds when they drew up the regency budget.

"Part of that money was distributed to the 40 former lawmakers, with each receiving Rp 25 million for their personal use," Hartadi said.

Prosecutors will also look into how the regency budget was drawn up to allow the councillors to put aside funds for their personal use.

The councillors reportedly used government regulation No. 110/2002 on the financial balance between the House of Representatives, provincial councils and regency/city councils in drawing up the budget. However, that regulation had already been revoked by the Constitutional Court.