Another council faces graft probe

Another council faces graft probe

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: All 45 members of the previous
Banyumas legislative council will face an investigation into
their alleged role in a Rp 5 billion (US$555,555) corruption
case, police said on Tuesday.

Banyumas Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Erwin Triwanto said the
ex-councillors were accused of embezzling funds from the 2002 and
2003 regental budgets for personal use.

The Supreme Audit Agency (BPK) had earlier found indications
of corruption in the council.

"Irregularities were found in the allocations for official
trips, gratuity payments, housing allowance, insurance and
holiday allowances," Erwin said.

He did not say when the police would begin summoning the
former councillors for questioning, nor did he name the suspects
in the case. Several councillors implicated in the case were
reelected in the April 5 legislative election.-- JP