House supports Aceh prosecutor over graft cases
House supports Aceh prosecutor over graft cases
Kurniawan Hari and Nani Farida, Jakarta/Banda Aceh
House of Representatives members have thrown their weight behind
the Aceh Prosecutor's Office tackling several corruption cases
allegedly involving administration officials, including Governor
Abdullah Puteh.
"In principle, prosecution should be conducted by the
prosecutor's office. Besides, the martial law administration is
occupied with its duties in controlling the integrated operation
in the province," chairman of House Commission I for security
affairs Ibrahim Ambong told the press after a meeting with Aceh
Police chief Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman and deputy head of the
Aceh Prosecutor's Office Teuku Zakaria in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Zakaria said his office had not received the dossiers of the
graft cases from the martial law administration.
Commission deputy chairman Franklin W. Kayhatu said that under
Law No. 23/1959 on states of emergency, the Aceh martial law
administrator had the authority to prosecute the cases.
"The Aceh Prosecutor's Office, however, should take over its
role because the martial law administration is busy with the
integrated operation," Franklin said, referring to the military
operation against Acehnese rebels.
According to the legislators, the Aceh Prosecutor's Office has
will have 44 criminal cases to try. Among them are the purchase
of a Russian helicopter, a used printing machine and the
procurement of cars for members of the local legislature.
The purchase price of a Russian Mi-2 PLC Rostove Mill
helicopter was reportedly marked up to Rp 12.6 billion from the
original price of Rp 6.1 billion in 2002. The police in Aceh are
still investigating the alleged misappropriation of Rp 30 billion
(US$3.4 million) earmarked for electricity generators.
Later in the day, ad interim coordinating minister for
political and security affairs Hari Sabarno and Aceh monitoring
team Mar'ie Muhammad held a closed-door meeting with House deputy
speaker Soetardjo Soerjogoeritno and some legislators.
It was concluded at the meeting that the government would
decide on the status of martial law in Aceh after a visit by the
House team to the province scheduled for May 6.
Separately in Aceh, Free Aceh Movement (GAM) commander in
Peurelak, East Aceh, Ishak Daud said the rebel group would
release 100 hostages, including RCTI cameraman Fery Santoro on
May 13. Fery has been held hostage for almost 10 months. GAM
agreed to release the hostages after consultation with the
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
"Initially, the ICRC hopes the release will take place on May
8, which coincides with ICRC's anniversary. But I think that
would be too rushed," Ishak added.
He demanded that the Indonesian Military (TNI) cease its
military operations for two days, with the first day being used
by GAM to assemble the hostages and the second being used to
release them.
"We ask it (TNI) not to breach the agreement so that the
release will proceed smoothly," Ishak said.
The release will reportedly take place in the vicinity of
agricultural company PT Bumi Flora in Idi Rayeuk, East Aceh.
Military operation spokesman Lt. Col. CAJ Asep Sapari said he
had no idea about the release. "That's rubbish. How can we trust
Ishak Daud?" he said.
Fery, along with RCTI reporter Sori Ersa Siregar, driver
Rachmatsyah and two women named Farida and Soraya were captured
by GAM on June 29 last year. Rachmatsyah, Farida and Soraya
escaped, but Ersa Siregar was killed during a gunfight in
December last year.