Governor declared suspect

Governor declared suspect

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Kupang Police have declared East
Nusa Tenggara Governor Piet A. Tallo a suspect in a corruption
case involving a health facility project worth Rp 15 billion
(US$1.83 million), causing the state to suffer Rp 3.83 billion in
losses.

"I will request a letter of permission from President Megawati
Soekarnoputri on Monday through the East Nusa Tenggara Police
chief to examine Tallo as a suspect in the corruption
allegation," Kupang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Viktor
Simanjuntak said on Sunday.

Tallo was just re-elected as governor on June 19.

The police have heard the opinions on the allegation of legal
experts Prof. Dr. Natabaya, who is an expert adviser at the
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, and former minister of
justice and human rights Prof. Dr. Muladi.

"Should the state suffer material losses from the project, the
official who allowed this to happen should be held responsible,"
Simanjutak quoted both experts.

In the meantime, the police are still waiting for the
president's response. -- Antara