Graft charges threaten rule of reelected NTT governor

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Governor Piet A. Tallo, who was just reelected for a second five-year term, is facing a challenge to his rule as his political rivals try to stop his inauguration next week.

Police identified Tallo as a possible suspect in a Rp 3.83 billion graft case based on material evidence and the questioning of several witnesses.

Now the police are awaiting presidential permission to question the governor over a questionable deal involving Rp 15 billion (US$1.8 million) of hospital equipment in 2002.

The deal, called the Sarkes project, caused Rp 3.83 billion in losses to the state.

Police began investigating the matter last year, but Tallo was only linked to the case after the council reelected him for a second term in June.

Tallo is scheduled to be sworn in on July 15, but there are hints that the inauguration could be delayed indefinitely, pending the results of the police investigation.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri has yet to issue a decree approving the swearing-in of Tallo by Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno.

Local councillors, opposed to Tallo's reelection, are campaigning for a revote.

The councillors also wrote to Megawati and Hari urging the central government to annul the reelection of Tallo.

"Besides a revote, we also demand that the President and the home minister not issue a decree approving the inauguration of the governor-elect because of his alleged involvement in the Sarkes project," Yosua Mooy, who chairs the coalition faction in the East Nusa Tenggara legislative council, said on Thursday.

Tallo and Frans Lebu Raya was elected governor and deputy governor on June 19 for the 2003-2008 term, defeating the candidates of the coalition faction.

Tallo and Frans, backed by Megawati's Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), won the election by one vote over B. Laiskodat and Simon Hayon.

The chairman of the provincial gubernatorial election committee, Kristo Blasin, said the inauguration of Tallo and Frans would go ahead as planned on July 15, despite the police investigation.

Speaking on Wednesday, he said the presidential decree on the inauguration would be issued later this week.

"We have received assurances from the home affairs minister, and the NTT administration secretary has been told to prepare for the inauguration ceremony," Kristo said.

He said the corruption case had nothing to do with the inauguration.

"The issue of Piet A Tallo's alleged involvement in the Sarkes project ... is a police affair and is not part of the political process. We should differentiate between the two."

He said a review of the election had been completed and no evidence of bribery had been found, adding that the election had proceeded transparently and democratically, in compliance with all prevailing procedures.

Kupang Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Victor Simanjuntak denied his office was attempting to stop the inauguration of Tallo with the graft case.

"It never crossed my mind to stop the event. That is a political process and has nothing to do with the legal process," he told Antara.

"It is my duty to follow through on this. I am a professional investigator."