Depok graft charges 'vague'

Depok graft charges 'vague'

Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Bogor

A defense lawyer for 17 Depok councillors on Tuesday pointed to
what he said were various defects in the prosecution graft
charges laid against their clients for corruption some time
during their terms from 1999 to 2004, and asked the Cibinong
District Court to throw out the case.

Most of the defendants have been reelected for the current
2004 to 2009 term.

The councillors stand accused of authorizing the misuse of Rp
7.5 billion (US$797,872) out of the Depok budget to cover their
personal expenses, including the payment of installments on
houses and cars, and the payment of telephone and water bills,
and insurance premiums.

Lawyer Darmi Marasabessy told the court, presided over by
Judge Andi Samsan Nganro, that the prosecution charges were
unduly vague and therefore should be dismissed.

"The prosecution alleges that the money was misappropriated so
as to allow the amassing of wealth by the councillors, and the
Depok council speaker and deputy speakers at that time. But
insufficient details and facts have been presented to support the
accusations," he said.

Moreover, Marasabessy claimed the prosecution had wrongly
based the case on Government Regulation No. 105/2000 on local
government financial management "as there is already a local
bylaw in effect specifically dealing with these matters based on
the interests of the region and its people."

The investigation into the case started late last year, and
separate prosecutions are now being taken, with one involving
the former council speaker, Sutadi, the current speaker, Naming
D. Bothin, and serving council member Hasbullah, and the other
involving a total of 14 defendants, namely, Bambang Sutopo,
Bambang Prihanto, Mazhab, Mansuria, Rafie Ahmad, Mahrup Aman,
Ratna Nuryana, Sasono, Damanhuri, Kusdiharto, Hiras Tony Hutapea,
Agus Sutondo, Cristian Poltak Slamet Silaban and Haryono.