JP/5/bupati Regent faces jail for graft

KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: Prosecutors have demanded that Kendari Regent Razak Porosi be sentenced to three years in prison for corruption involving almost Rp 300 million.

Reading out a 90-page indictment, prosecutor Antonius Sudiarto told the Kendari District Court on Wednesday that the defendant must also pay a Rp 30 million fine if found guilty in the ongoing trial.

The regent was guilty of misusing his power by amassing state funds for his and his cronies' personal gain, he alleged.

Razak has been accused of collecting as much as Rp 289.3 million in donations from local businesspeople and others between 1993 and 1998 to fund state ceremonies related to national holidays and social activities in Kendari.

Antonius said the donations were made despite the fact his administration had allocated funds for those events from its budget.

The regent was also blamed for the management of the funds, which the prosecutor said should have been the responsibility of event committees.

During Wednesday's trial presided over by judge M. Hoesni Sulaiman, the defendant, wearing his official uniform, looked calm.

In response to the demands, the regent's lawyers said their client understood the charges and would enter its defense at the next hearing date on March 6. --Antara

Minister wants gambling canceled JAKARTA: Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has told the Batam municipality in Riau province to revoke a gambling permit issued to Tering Bay Resort, Noah subdistrict.

Untung Raharjo, general secretary of the National Commission to Monitor Autonomy, said the minister told him the gambling permit was illegal and should be scrapped.

Hari would order Batam Mayor Nyat Kadir to withdraw the illegal permit, Untung said.

The minister's remark added weight to mounting pressure on the mayor to revoke the permit given to local company PT Dewa Menara Wisata, which is developing a casino at the resort.

In response, police have pledged to summon Nyat Kadir for questioning. --Antara