Ex-regent grilled for six hours

YOGYAKARTA: Former Bantul regent Col. Sri Roso Sudarmo was grilled for more than six hours by the military police here yesterday over allegations that he tried to bribe a Soeharto- linked foundation with Rp 1 billion (US$68,000) to get reappointed as regent.

The former regent, who was mobbed by waiting reporters after the questioning, refused to comment on his questioning.

The head of the Military Police investigating team, Lt. Col. Unggul K. Yudoyono, who was interviewed later, also refused to reveal much about the interrogation.

"Many questions were asked," he said, adding that only the Central Java Military Police chief in Semarang could give material details of the interrogation.

Sri Roso was grilled as a suspect for in 1996 allegedly agreeing to give a "donation" to the Dharmais Foundation chaired by former president Soeharto if he could retain his post.

Sri Roso may also be questioned over the unsolved murder of Bernas daily journalist Fuad Muhammad Syafruddin, alias Udin, in 1996.

Many people believe the journalist's death was probably tied to corruption reports he was investigating in Bantul.

The head of the Yogyakarta police detectives, Lt. Col. Erwin Tobing, said yesterday that 27 people had been interrogated in the new probe into Udin's murder. (23/44)