Legislator refuses to be interrogated

Legislator refuses to be interrogated

Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang

West Sumatra legislature chairman Arwan Kasri has refused to be
interrogated by the prosecutor's office who are investigating
alleged corruption in the provincial legislative council.

Halius Hosen, chief of the prosecutor's office in Padang, West
Sumatra, regretted Arwan's refusal to cooperate, saying his
decision would prolong the investigation.

"Arwan Kasri should set a good example to other councillors to
encourage legal certainty and law enforcement in the legislative
body," he told reporters here recently.

The prosecutor's office has already questioned the secretary
of the legislature's treasurer and determined the council's 2002
budget contains discrepancies.

The investigation was launched after a number of corruption
complaints from members of the public.

M. Zen Gomo, a councillor from the local chapter of the
National Mandate Party, has refused to appear for work following
the presentation of the controversial budget.

He said he would only return once the legislative council
revised the budget.

The budget has sparked criticism from numerous university
student bodies, but their demands have been ignored.

The budget allocates Rp 1.7 billion for insurance for the 55
council members and Rp 1.32 billion for councillor's welfare.

"How come the provincial budget is so easily corrupted by
council members," student field coordinator Rustam Effendi said.

"This is clearly corruption," said Elwi Dhanil, a legal expert
from Andalas University.

Halius said his office would force Arwan Kasri to cooperate
with investigators.

Arwan would not comment on the reasons for his lack of
cooperation.

"It is true that I have rejected being questioned but I don't
want to comment on my reasons."