Local chiefs now top graft suspect list

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.