Governor Puteh talks to Constitution judge

JAKARTA: Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Governor Abdullah Puteh held a brief discussion with a Constitutional Court judge on Friday to complain about the use of retroactivity in the country's legal system.

"He did not specifically say that he would bring a constitutional challenge, and I am aware of the fact that he is being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission," Judge Abdul Mukhtie Fajar said.

Puteh, who has been accused of marking up the price of a Russian helicopter in 2002 thereby defrauding the state of some Rp 6 billion, declined to talk to the press after the meeting.

He is slated to be go on trial in December before the new Anticorruption Court established under Law No. 30/2002 on the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). The mark-up, however, allegedly occurred some time in 2001. -- JP