Kendari official jailed for graft
KENDARI, Southeast Sulawesi: A local government official was sentenced on Thursday to one year in jail for graft, involving more than Rp 58 million, in connection with a development project.
The Kendari District Court in Southeast Sulawesi found Syamsuddin, who led the project of an orphanage funded by Japan's OECF (Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund), guilty of graft.
Prosecutor Puranama had demanded that the defendant be sentenced to one year for causing losses to the state.
The judges also ordered Syamsuddin, an official with the Kendari trade and industry office, to return the embezzled Rp 58,522,082 to the state and pay Rp 5,000 toward court proceedings.
"The defendant is legally and convincingly proven to have violated Law No. 20/2001 on corruption eradication," said presiding judge Murad Puasi, flanked by judges Islam Bin Kaswadi and Joner Manik.
Syamsuddin, accompanied by his lawyers, said he would decide whether or not to appeal the verdict within a week.
The charges were made against the defendant following a report that the project was carried out without a tender. -- Antara
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3,000 guard against terror in Cirebon
CIREBON, West Java: Police here have deployed at least 3,000 personnel to guard all strategic and vital facilities along West Java's north coast, following a powerful hotel bombing in Jakarta, which killed at least 10 people and injured 149 others.
Security was also increased at a number of hotels, shopping malls and entertainment centers in Cirebon, West Java, to anticipate the possibility of further terrorist attacks, police chief Sr. Comr. Sunaryono said.
He declared Cirebon to be on first alert status to remind security forces to be serious in carrying out their duties.
"We don't want to take any risks. We have tightened security and all personnel must be on guard," said Sunaryono, whose command oversees security in the regencies of Indramayu, Majalengka, Kuningan and Cirebon.
The strategic facilities under guard by police include the Balongan oil plant and its processing unit, which belongs to state-owned PT Pertamina in Indramayu.
Private cigarette firm PT British American Tobacco, PT Gas Indonesia and cement company PT Indocement Tunggal Perkasa, all in Cirebon, would also be provided police guards.
The personnel deployed to Pertamina include members of the West Java elite police Mobile Brigade (Brimob).
"The oil plant is the main supplier of fuel for West Java and Jakarta, so it is one of the most vital facilities to receive tight security," Sunaryono said. -- JP