E. Kalimantang governor latest to be reported for corruption

Rusman and Nana Rukmana, The Jakarta Post/Samarinda/Cirebon

East Kalimantan Governor Suwarna A.F. was reported on Thursday to the provincial prosecutor's office for his alleged involvement in two separate graft cases.

In a meeting with provincial prosecutors, some 30 activists from the Anti-Graft Youth Alliance (APAK) said the governor should be held responsible for an alleged markup in the purchase of an airplane from Australia and a reportedly fictitious plantation project.

The first case surfaced when the East Kalimantan government bought five airplanes from an Australian company for Rp 5 billion (US$555,555) each.

Activists investigating the purchase allege each airplane should have cost the government just Rp 2.8 billion each. The deal cost the public a total of Rp 11.5 billion, they claim.

In the second case, the governor is accused of approving a fictitious project by a large plantation company. According to the report by the activists, after receiving approval the company cut down large swaths of trees and sold the timber but never turned the area into a plantation.

Activists estimate the state lost Rp 5.3 billion ($588,888) from the tree cutting.

During the meeting on Thursday, APAK leader Amir P. Ali demanded prosecutors swiftly investigate the alleged corruption cases. Amir also said he was ready to testify in court about the cases.

"We also demand the governor step down or at least be suspended during the investigation," said Amir.

East Kalimantan Prosecutor's Office head Masri Djinin said the matter of the questionable plantation project was being investigated by the Attorney General's Office.

He said his office would soon open an investigation into the purchase of the Australian airplanes.

Governor Suwarna was attending an official function in Jakarta and was unavailable for comment on Thursday, said provincial administration spokesman Jauhar Effendi.

Pressure is being exerted against Suwarna at the same time West Sumatra Governor Zainal Bakar stands accused of embezzling Rp 6.4 billion.

Separately, student activists in Cirebon lashed out at a plan by local councillors to purchase luxury cars for the leaders of the Cirebon Councils.

Ari Sobari, chairman of the Indonesian Nationalist Student Movement, said it was clear the councillors had no sense of crisis.

"This plan is a slap in the face for residents. Many people here are living below the poverty line, yet the councillors propose the purchase of luxury cars for themselves," Sobari said.

Cirebon Council Speaker Tasiya Soemadi Al Gotas confirmed the planned purchase of the vehicles. "However, this is just a plan. We are still discussing it."