Deputy Regent probed in graft case

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: East Nusa Tenggara Prosecutor's Office will soon question Kupang Deputy Regent Ruben Funay over a corruption matter. Senior prosecutor Hartadi said that the summons letter had been sent to Ruben on Monday and he is expected to attend for questioning this week.

Ruben will be questioned in relation to financial irregularities in the Kupang council budget for year 2004, which caused losses to the state amounting to Rp 1 billion (US$100,000).

In the preliminary investigation, prosecutors found that the budget committee at Kupang regental council had used Presidential Decree No. 110/2002 as a guide when the committee arranged the council budget last year.

However, the use of the presidential decree was in violation of the law as the decree had been revoked by the Supreme Court. The prosecutors allege that the committee manipulated the old decree for their own gain. -- JP