Bantul regent to be questioned

YOGYAKARTA: The chief of the Yogyakarta police precinct, Col. Darsono said yesterday that Bantul Regent Sri Roso Sudarmo may be questioned in connection with the recent murder of a local journalist.

"Everything is possible, including having the Bantul's regent questioned by the police," Darsono was quoted by Antara as saying.

The regent has denied the allegation that the murder of Fuad Muhammad Safruddin had anything to do with the journalist's reports about irregularities in the management of the regency's poverty alleviation program funds.

Safruddin, or Udin, was attacked at his home on Aug. 13. He died after three days in intensive care and never regained consciousness. He is survived by his wife and two children.

The commander of the local army regiment, Col. A.R. Gaffar, has suggested five possible motives for Safruddin's killing, the most plausible of which he cited as his articles in the Yogyakarta-based Bernas daily.

According to Gaffar, the media publishing illustrations of the suspected assassins is a double-edged sword.

"On one hand it makes the search for the assassins more difficult because they may have fled in terror. On the other hand, it also helps people identify the suspects," he said. (14)