Another ex-regent to face graft probe

Another ex-regent to face graft probe

JAKARTA: A number of legislators from Doupu regency in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) reported former local regent Abubakar Ahmad to the Attorney General's Office (AGO) here on Tuesday for alleged corruption.

Abubakar is accused of marking up the price of a fire truck his administration purchased last year for Rp 900 million (US$92,783).

However, an investigation showed that the fire truck was not a new one and should have cost only Rp 300 million, said Doupu legislative council deputy speaker Iwan Kurniawan, who led the delegation of local councillors received by AGO spokesman Soehandoyo.

"This case has been handled by the NTB High Prosecutor's Office since 2004, but the investigation into Abubakar Ahmad at the time was hindered by the absence of permission from the President to summon him, a state official," Iwan added.

He also questioned why no progress had been made in the graft case, even though Abubakar was no longer the regent of Doupu.

Iwan said the former regent allegedly marked up the prices of 570 motorcycles bought by the Doupu administration, which caused some Rp 2 billion in state losses. --Antara