Court grants convicted Puteh city arrest status
Court grants convicted Puteh city arrest status
Tony Hotland, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Suspended Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh, who was sentenced to 10
years' in jail last week following his conviction on corruption
charges, has been granted city arrest status by the Jakarta High
Court due to health concerns, his lawyers said on Tuesday.
However, Puteh's status apparently remained that of detainee
on Tuesday as the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had yet
to give its approval to the change of status.
The change in status means that Puteh, who is currently
receiving medical treatment in the MH Thamrin Hospital after
surgery on March 31, will not have to go back to jail upon his
discharge, but instead will only have to remain within the
confines of the city of Jakarta.
The city arrest status will last for 30 days, starting from
April 12, the date on which Puteh appealed his conviction, to May
11. Further extension was possible, his lawyers said.
In a certificate signed by the Jakarta High Court deputy
president, Zaharuddin Utama, the court said it had reduced
Puteh's arrest status to that of city arrest after taking into
account his state of health.
Based on medical reports from doctors at the MH Thamrin
Hospital, Puteh was suffering from epididymitis (a secondary
bacterial infection), and varicocele (a varicose enlargement of
the veins of the spermatic cord).
The court also said it had taken into consideration the huge
psychological impact being suffered by Puteh and his children, as
well as guarantees from his lawyers and a number of prominent
Aceh figures that Puteh would not abscond or attempt to pervert
the course of justice.
Should Puteh break any of the agreed stipulations, the court
would revoke the city arrest status and put him back behind bars
again.
In the certificate, the court also ordered the Corruption
Eradication Commission (KPK) to execute the decision immediately.
"That's why we came to the KPK today ... to ask them to
immediately give their consent. The KPK investigators said they
had received the certificate from the Jakarta High Court, but
couldn't do anything until receiving the go-ahead from the KPK
chairman," lawyer Syaifuddin Popon said.
He added that Puteh's lawyers would visit the KPK again on
Wednesday to meet with KPK chairman Taufiqurrahman Ruki.
Puteh was found guilty of graft in the 2001 purchase of a
Russian-made MI-2 helicopter for the province, causing the
taxpayer to lose more than Rp 3.68 billion (US$400,800).
He was ordered to reimburse the state for its losses and pay
Rp 500 million in fines or spend an additional six months in
jail.
In addition, Puteh faces imminent dismissal from his post as
Aceh governor.