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