Depok mayor to be quizzed over graft

JAKARTA: The Jakarta Police will summon Depok Mayor Badrul Kamal this week for questioning over alleged corruption worth Rp 9 billion (US$989,011) involving him and 45 former councillors in 2002.

"We received the letter of approval from the Presidential Office on Oct. 30, authorizing us to question the mayor," city police spokesman Sr. Comr. Tjiptono said on Monday.

The mayor signed the budget estimates submitted by the Depok Council secretariat, thereby approving its spending plans, including the personal expenses of the councillors. The councillors used the money to pay for such things as life insurance premiums, private telephone bills and property loans.

The police have named 23 former councillors, some of whom were reelected, as suspects. -- JP