Mayor candidate reports councillors for bribery
Mayor candidate reports councillors for bribery
Multa Fidrus, The Jakarta Post, Tangerang
Fachrul Munir, 53, reported 20 members of Tangerang City Council
to Tangerang Police alleging that they had accepted bribes during
the recent mayoral election.
Munir, who failed to qualify in the election, said in Friday's
report that he "had given" Rp 2.5 billion (US$294,117.65) to the
councillors who promised to vote him in as Tangerang Mayor for
the 2003-2008 term.
"The 20 councillors first told me that they needed funds to
support their political parties in the general election," Munir
told the media at his house in Lippo Karawaci housing estate on
Saturday.
The businessman said that he had held a meeting with the 20
councillors at a restaurant near the Soekarno-Hatta International
Airport on March 15. Before receiving the Rp 2.5 billion, each
councillor signed a statement to pledge their support for Munir.
Munir said that 12 of the 20 councillors were from the
Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction,
three from the National Mandate Party (PAN) faction, two from the
United Development Party (PPP) faction, two from coalition
faction and one from Golkar.
"The 20 councillors must be taken to court," he said.
Tangerang councillors finally elected incumbent secretary to
the municipal administration Wahidin Halim as mayor and Deddy
Sjafei, executive chairman of PAN branch in Tangerang, as deputy
mayor.
Wahidin, the brother of foreign minister Hassan Wirayuda, won
34 out of 42 votes, defeating other pairs of candidates of Rusman
Umar-Madsani Machmud and Fakhrudin-Sadjiran Tarmizie.
The new mayor and his deputy will be sworn in on Nov. 16.
Tangerang Police intelligence deputy chief Insp. Maryono, who
received the complaints, said that police had suggested Munir
settle the problem with councillors amicably prior to summoning
the councillors.
"Munir has agreed with the suggestion and the council will
discuss the issue in a session on Monday," Maryono said.
Councillor Gian Sugiharsono could not be reached for comment
on the report.
"Pak Gian left the house on Thursday and I don't know his
whereabouts," said Yani, Gian's sister-in-law, when The Jakarta
Post visited his house on Jl. Nyi Mas Melati on Saturday.
Similarly, Fauzi H.I. of Golkar faction could not be reached
for comment either.
"Bapak (Father) is quite busy and can't be disturbed," said
Novi, Fauzi's daughter who answered his cellular phone.