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