Deputy mayor faces court for corruption

BOGOR: Bogor Deputy Mayor M. Sahid faced his first hearing on Monday over his alleged involvement in a Rp 6.28 billion (US$697,778) corruption case.

The hearing at the Bogor District Court was marked by protests from Sahid's supporters. They said the Bogor Prosecutor's Office was unjust for only detaining Sahid, who allegedly committed the graft offenses while chairing the Bogor Council from 1999-2004, and not the other councillors.

His lawyer, Gartono, said Sahid's detention violated Law No. 32/2004 that requires prosecutors to obtain the president's permission to investigate and detain state officials.

Prosecutor Kornelis Lere argued the investigation had begun during the term of former president Megawati Soekarnoputri. He also denied accusations his office had unfairly singled out Sahid during the investigation. -- JP