Ex-chief councillor held for graft probe
Ex-chief councillor held for graft probe
Jon Afrizal and Rusman, The Jakarta Post, Jambi/Samarinda
Prosecutors in Jambi province detained on Thursday a former chief
councillor for interrogation over the alleged embezzlement of Rp
5.7 billion (US$633,333).
Ibnu Hajar, who chaired the East Tanjungjabung regental
legislative council for the 1999-2004 period, was taken to Jambi
Penitentiary at around 2 p.m., in an car belonging to the Jambi
Prosecutor's Office.
The suspect has been accused of embezzling Rp 5.7 billion from
the 2002 and 2003 provincial budgets. The money was used to pay
all council members honorary allowances through their insurance
policies.
Ibnu's arrest warrant was issued on Thursday and signed by
local chief prosecutor Farchan Sunyoto. He was declared a suspect
in mid-November and could be detained for up to 20 days.
"We are holding him so that the investigation of the case
proceeds smoothly," Farchan told The Jakarta Post, promising that
his office was serious in dealing with the graft scam that was
uncovered mid this year.
He said other former councillors and government officials in
East Tanjungjabung would soon be summoned for questioning in
relation to the case.
Executives of Jambi's Islamic Takafful insurance firm could
also be investigated, Farchan said.
Ibnu's lawyer Krismanto said he would file a request for the
suspension of his client's detention, while denying the charges
against the former council speaker.
"Every thing will be explained in the trial," Krismanto said.
He argued that his client should not be held "fully
responsible" for the case as the decision to disburse the money
was made by all council members and relevant government
officials, including East Tanjungjabung Regent Abdullah Hich.
"Whoever knows about the case must be investigated, not only
my client," Krismanto said.
Ibnu is one of numerous (former) councillors and officials who
have been arrested, jailed, tried or questioned in graft cases
across Indonesia, which was ranked the world's most corrupt
country this year by Transparency International.
In Samarinda, East Kalimantan Prosecutor's Office head Masri
Djinin assured dozens of student protesters on Friday that he
would press ahead with uncovering graft cases in the oil-rich
province.
"We will optimize our efforts to do that. We will prove it
soon to the public," he added.
Masri said his office would, in the near future, take to court
a Rp 46 billion corruption case allegedly involving former East
Kutai regental council speaker Abdal Nanang.
The Samarinda prosecutors are also probing a graft case at the
Bulungan regental council, involving Rp 945 million used for an
official trip by its members.
Other cases being examined include the alleged misuse of Rp 88
billion in reforestation funds, with Berau Regent Masjuni
declared a suspect.
Masri said his office would soon name a senior reelected
member of the East Kalimantan legislative council as a suspect in
the Rp 85 billion graft case.
The prosecutors are awaiting the consent of President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono to summon the councillor in question, Masri
added.
He made the statements as student protesters were rallying
outside his office to demand that his office speed up corruption
probes in the province.