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.