Ex-regent to be questioned today

YOGYAKARTA: Former Bantul Regent Col. Sri Roso Sudarmo has been summoned as a suspect in a bribery case by the military police here and will be questioned today.

Local Military Police commander Lt. Col. Unggul Kawistara Yudoyono said here Saturday that Sri Roso would be interrogated for allegedly offering the Dharmais charity foundation Rp 1 billion (US$71,500) to smooth his reappointment as Bantul regent for the 1996/2001 term.

The foundation is chaired by former president Soeharto.

Unggul said that despite focusing its main attention on the bribery charges, the military police investigation would also be open to the possibility of looking for clues which might connect the regent to the unsolved murder of Bernas daily journalist, Fuad Muhammad Syafrudin, in 1996.

Fuad, also known as Udin, was among a few journalists who first reported Sri Roso's alleged attempt to offer the "donation" to the foundation.

Yesterday, Unggul also said that everybody allegedly linked to the bribery case would be summoned for questioning.

He said this would include the Argomulyo village head in Godean subdistrict of Bantul, R. Notosuwito, who is also a stepbrother of former president Soeharto. (23/44)