41 councillors named suspects

41 councillors named suspects

PADANG, West Sumatra: Forty-one councillors were named
suspects in an embezzlement case involving the loss of Rp 8.1
billion from the 2001-2002 provincial budget.

Head of Padang Prosecutors' Office Tarmizi Mal said on
Wednesday that he had received a letter from West Sumatra
Governor Zainal Bakar with an order to investigate the
councillors.

Initial interrogations will be conducted by head of the
provincial council Maigus Nasir and deputies Muhidi and Chairul
Indra.

In an earlier case, 55 councillors were named suspects in the
embezzlement of the year 2000 provincial budget. Former chairman
of the council, Masfar Rasyid, was detained for 60 days at Muaro
Padang jail. The case is being tried at Padang District Court. --JP