Governor to answer graft questions

Governor to answer graft questions

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso is scheduled to answer a Jakarta
Prosecutor's Office summons on Wednesday in connection with a
controversial foreign trip taken by several city officials and
councillors.

The affair has since been dubbed "Ancolgate".

The summons was received by the city administration on Monday.

"The governor will go to the prosecutor's office when he can
fit it into his schedule," said administration spokesman Muhayat.

Sutiyoso had agreed earlier to be a witness in the case.

The scandal revolves around "comparative studies" undertaken
by several city officials and 15 councillors in Japan, South
Korea and Australia, which cost the city Rp 54 million and the
city-owned PT Pembangunan Jaya Ancol US$5000.

The prosecutors office has named councillors Tarmidi Suhardjo
and Tarmidi Edi Suwarno of the Indonesian Democratic Party of
Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) and Ali Imron Hussein of the United
Development Party suspects as they took money for the trip
without actually joining it. -- JP