Jambi Governor in hot water for reneging on promise

Jambi Governor in hot water for reneging on promise

Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi

Zulkifli Nurdin, the Jambi governor who is seeking reelection
this year, is facing legal trouble over an unkept promise he made
to residents.

The case, which could affect his popularity ahead of the June
26 election, began two weeks ago when a local non-governmental
organization filed a lawsuit against Zulkifli. The suit claimed
the governor failed to provide a shelter for street children, as
he promised last year.

"Zulkifli promised in November last year that he would build
the shelter soon, but the promise, the written promise, was never
made good on. This prompted us to file the lawsuit," said
Suratno, a lawyer representing the Street Children Community
Institute.

Suratno said his client was not seeking money for itself, but
simply wanted Zulkifli to provide Rp 79.25 million (US$8,430) for
the construction of a shelter able to accommodate about 100
street children in Jambi city.

The Jambi District Court has scheduled two sessions to hear
the case, but Zulkifli and his lawyers failed to turn up both
times.

Court spokesman Djaniko Girsang expressed frustration over
Zulkifli's failure to attend the sessions.

"If the defendant continues to skip the sessions, the district
court cannot hear his account of the case, which will hamper the
legal process," said Djaniko.

He said the district court would again ask Zulkifli to appear
in the coming weeks.

Djaniko promised the trial would be fair, adding that everyone
was equal before the law.

The embattled governor has been nominated for reelection by a
coalition of the Golkar Party, the National Mandate Party (PAN)
and the Crescent Star Party (PBB).