Chief councillor charged with graft

Chief councillor charged with graft

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: The speaker of Tenggamus regency
legislative council, Muaz Munziri, has been named a suspect in a
corruption case involving Rp 700 million in loans for local
farmers.

Head of Lampung Prosecutor's Office I Putu Kusa said on
Tuesday the charge was based on testimonies by three witnesses
from the Prinsewu branch of Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), which
disbursed the loans.

He said that according to the witnesses -- Kamrus, Ngalimin
and Rahmat -- Muaz refused to repay Rp 700 million of the Rp 1.4
billion fund BRI disbursed to a village cooperatives unit led by
the suspect.

"They admit having tried to collect the debt on many
occasions, but Muaz always tried to evade them," Kusa said.

The money was allegedly embezzled by Muaz, who had also been
involved in a separate graft case in which he collected between
Rp 30,000 and Rp 50,000 from those wanting to obtain certificates
for their land in the forest.

However, none of them have received the promised documents.
--JP