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.