Councillor charged in graft case

PALEMBANG, South Sumatra: Councillor Yusuf Sumo has been named a second suspect in the embezzlement case involving Rp 600 million (US$70,588) to clear land for a public cemetery in Gandus subdistrict.

Patuan Siahaan, assistant to the head of the South Sumatra Prosecutor's Office, said on Friday that Sumo was charged on the basis of an investigation into the main suspect.

Prosecutors are to question Sumo soon, having been granted permission on April 3 from South Sumatra Governor Syahrial Oesman to summon him, Patuan said.

The prosecutors had earlier found it difficult to question Sumo without an official summons.

Asked about the possibility of other councillors being implicated in the land graft, Patuan replied that it would depend on results unearthed by the ongoing investigation. -- Antara