JP/4/regents

JP/4/regents

SBY's graft war goes national as governors become suspects

Abdul Khalik and
Syofiardi Bachyul Jb
The Jakarta Post/Jakarta/Padang

After several dozen local legislators across the country were
convicted for corruption, police and prosecutors were currently
targeting local administration heads in their fight against
endemic corruption.

Those on the graft hit list include several governors,
including Zainal Bakar of West Sumatra, at least one mayor and
three regents with pledges of more to be named in the next few
weeks.

Prosecutors have declared Zainal a suspect for his alleged
involvement in the same collective Rp 6.4 billion (US$680,851)
embezzlement case that saw 43 councillors imprisoned recently.

Forty-three councillors were prosecuted in that case back in
July, with the Padang District Court sentencing them to between
24 and 27 months for their roles in embezzling the money from the
2002 provincial budget.

West Sumatra Prosecutor's Office chief Antasari Azhar said on
Saturday his office had filed a request on Oct. 25 with President
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to question the governor.

Presidential permission is required for police and prosecutors
to summon a senior state official for questioning.

"Hopefully, the President will give us the green light to
question Zainal after Ramadhan. It is already the policy of the
new government to complete the handling of all cases in
prosecutors' offices," Antasari said in Padang, the capital city
of West Sumatra.

He said the governor was allegedly implicated by the
councillors' testimony during their trial. They were convicted of
overstating their telephone charges, house rental costs and
insurance.

Separately, presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng announced
on Saturday that Susilo had signed letters approving police
requests to question Badrul Kamal, the mayor of Depok in West
Java, Syamsul Hadi, the regent of Banyuwangi in East Java, and
Ansel Petru Youw, the regent of Nabire in Papua.

Badrul is accused of embezzling Rp 9.4 billion from Depok's
budgets from 1999 to 2004, and Rp 34.9 billion from its regional
development funds.

Syamsul allegedly transferred Rp 251 million to his personal
account from Banyuwangi's budget, while Ansel is charged with
abusing his position as a regent and getting involved in
corruption during his previous job as the Nabire education and
culture office head.

Also, Attorney General's Office (AGO) spokesman RJ Soehandojo
said West Kalimantan prosecutors were now investigating Pontianak
Regent Cornelius Kimha for his alleged involvement in a Rp 2.2
billion graft case.

"We are now dealing with several cases involving regents,
including Pontianak Regent Cornelius Kimha, and governors," said
Soehandojo.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung
Sudjono confirmed on Saturday that his office had received
permission from President Susilo and that they would soon deliver
them to the provincial police offices that would be handling the
graft cases of Badrul Kamal, Syamsul Hadi and Ansel Petru Youw.

"The provincial police will summon them immediately after
receiving the permission letters. We hope that they will question
them this week," added Suyitno.

National Police director of the corruption crimes division,
Brig. Gen. Indarto said that apart from the mayor and the two
regents, the police were also waiting for permission from the
President to question several more regents and governors across
the country.

"Based on requests from provincial police, we have submitted
letters to the President asking for approval to summon several
more regents and governors. We hope we can have them as soon as
possible," said Indarto.

He declined to reveal any names, saying only that there were
too many to remember. However, he hinted that one of them was a
senior official from North Maluku province.

Several governors, regents and mayors have joined a growing
list of accused officials, mostly local councillors, as
Indonesia, named by watchdog Transparency International as one of
the world's most corrupt countries, attempts to root out graft.

President Susilo recently announced he would lead the national
drive against corruption.