Councillor rejects bribe, faces expulsion

Councillor rejects bribe, faces expulsion

MANADO, North Sulawesi: Ang Marentek, a Golkar Faction budget
committee member in the North Sulawesi Provincial Legislature,
has refused to accept what he termed a mysterious payment of Rp
30 million, arguing that the money was of unclear provenance.

"I have flatly refused to accept the money offered during
faction and budget meetings because the source of the money is
not clear. It is high time for us to tell the truth. I am an old
man and I have to set a good example to the public," Marentek
said here on Tuesday.

Marentek revealed that the first Rp 30 million out of a sum of
Rp 100 million promised to each legislator was paid out last
week, and a number of councillors were currently pressing the
budget committee to disburse another Rp 55 million prior to a
trip they plan to make to a number of European countries. He
added the rest was to be disbursed soon afterward.

"Each House member is to receive Rp 100 million before they
tour Europe plus another Rp 40 million to cover the cost of each
member's overseas travel," he disclosed.

Marentek, known for his commitment to fighting bribery, is now
under the threat of being recalled and expelled from the budget
committee. --JP