Legislator detained for graft

Legislator detained for graft

PADANG: After a series of interrogations, state prosecutors in
Solok, West Sumatra decided to detain the speaker the local
legislature, Saaduddin Chatib Bagindo for alleged embezzlement of
Rp 61 million (US$7,625) which had been earmarked for the
improvement of chicken farms in the regency.

Saaduddin is also the leader of Darussalam Muslim boarding
school, which applied for the funds from the government for a
chicken farm project.

During the questioning, Saaduddin told state prosecutors that
he spent Rp 10 million to buy some 500 chickens and deposited the
other Rp 51 million in his personal account.

During the course of the investigation, however, prosecutors
found out that the legislator never bought the 500 chickens and
allegedly spent the money instead for personal needs.

Saaduddin is the fifth legislator from the United Development
party (PPP) detained, all for different reasons, in West Sumatra.
--JP