Ex-councillor return govt cars

LUBUK LINGGAU, South Sumatra: Two official cars which had been used by a councillor here were taken back on Saturday by a joint team from the Musi Rawas regency administration, consisting of public order officers, police officers and Indonesian Military (TNI) personnel.

Dahari Anom, the head of the Musi Rawas Public Order Office, said that the official cars were taken by force from the residence of Sambas, the former deputy speaker of the regency council.

Sambas' term ended this year and consequently the official cars should have been returned to the administration.

"He should have known that he had to give them back. Our first attempt failed as he refused to hand them over," Dahari said.

He said that public order officers had visited Sambas' house several days ago to ask for the cars, which he described as "luxury cars."

The officials returned to the house on Saturday, accompanied by several police officers and TNI personnel.

This team was apparently more effective as Sambas finally surrendered the cars. -- Antara