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).