Allegedly corrupt mayor receives strong support from key officials

Allegedly corrupt mayor receives strong support from key officials

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

A total of 116 key officials at Pematang Siantar municipality
closed ranks on Thursday to say that they remained under the
command of mayor Marim Purba, even though the Minister of Home
Affairs had already suspended him and appointed deputy mayor
Kurnia Rajasa Saragih as acting mayor in the municipality.

The move was taken only a day after Kurnia distributed a
circular on Wednesday to all officials in the municipality,
saying that he had taken the helm of Pematang Siantar
municipality following the Minister's decree.

However, the officials rejected the Minister of Home Affairs'
orders, arguing that the orders were not yet finalized, so Marim
should remain the mayor of Pematang Siantar.

In a statement signed by the 116 officials, they argued that
North Sumatra governor T. Rizal Nurdin had not yet endorsed the
Minister's decision.

"Besides, the governor is still clarifying the Minister's
decision by sending him a letter, but the Minister has not given
an answer yet," said Benar Sitepu, who heads the City Market
Agency, the spokesman for the 116 officials.

Among those officials who threw their weight behind the ousted
mayor, Marim Purba, were the head of city's Public Works Agency,
Romauli Panjaitan, the head of city's Manpower Agency, Binner
Turnip and the head of city's Trade and Industry Agency Pande
Jhonny Marpaung.

Marim was suspended after a report that he was charged with
corruption in the mark up of the Horas market construction
project here -- involving Rp 700 million (US$82,352) -- last
year.

However, the Pematang Siantar District Court acquitted Marim
of all charges recently, although prosecutors had sought four
years in prison for him.

Kurnia could not be reached for comment on Thursday.