Abdullah Puteh faces dismissal, loss of assets

Muninggar Sri Saraswati and Eva C. Komandjaja, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

Suspended Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh will pay dearly for his conviction in a graft case as he faces imminent dismissal and will have his assets seized.

Minister of Home Affairs M. Ma'ruf said on Friday he would officially ask President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to dismiss Puteh following the Supreme Court's verdict that sentenced him to 10 years in prison last month. The court also fined him Rp 500 million (US$50,000) and ordered him to pay Rp 6.56 billion in restitution to the state.

"We'll soon send a letter (on Puteh's dismissal) to the President," Ma'ruf told The Jakarta Post after a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office.

If the President endorses the minister's request, Puteh will be the first governor to get his marching orders from the head of state in the country's history due to a corruption case.

Ma'ruf said he recommended that Puteh's suspension be made permanent because the governor's tenure would expire next month.

"Aceh is expected to hold a (direct) gubernatorial election in the near future," Ma'ruf said.

Puteh's dismissal is a formality as he has in practice been stripped of his powers since last December after President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono suspended him. The President then named Puteh's deputy Azwar Abubakar acting governor.

The dismissal complies with Law No.32/2004 on regional administration, which requires the president to dismiss a regional administration head without consulting the local legislature if he or she has been convicted by the Supreme Court whose decision is final and binding. The administrative punishment is restricted to criminal offenses that carry a minimum jail sentence of five years.

Puteh was found guilty by the district and appeal courts of enriching himself and abusing his power in the purchase of a Russian-made helicopter for the Aceh administration in 2001. The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK), which prosecuted Puteh, estimated the state losses resulting from the mark-up at Rp 10 billion.

KPK said it was preparing to confiscate Puteh's assets following the Supreme Court's ruling that required the governor to pay back in five years the state money he embezzled.

"He once said he would return the state money all at once, but later he asked us to allow him to pay in installments over five years," KPK prosecutor Haidir Ramli said.

Haidir said the KPK would seize Puteh's assets soon, but refused to say exactly when.

Prosecutors have listed Puteh's assets, which are worth more than Rp 6.5 billion, Haidir said.

Puteh may face another conviction in connection with the bribe offered by his lawyer to help him win his appeal filed with the Jakarta High Court.

Prosecutors demanded four years imprisonment for the lawyer, Tengku "Popon" Syaifuddin, who is charged with paying Rp 250 million to the court officials.