Mayor faces inquiry over alleged graft

PADANG, West Kalimantan: Minister of Home Affairs Surjadi Soedirdja has approved a formal investigation into a corruption case allegedly involving Payakumbuh mayor Darlis Ilyas.

The assistant to provincial secretary Rusdi Lubis told Antara the central government approved the legal procedure be taken in a letter dated Nov. 7. According to the law, Darwis will have to be suspended while undergoing investigation.

"We leave it up to the state prosecutors and just follow whatever is stipulated by the law," Rusdi said when asked to comment on the possibility of suspending the incumbent mayor.

Darwis has been accused of misuse of the current city budget, which, according to the findings of the local legislature, has caused the state to suffer Rp 1.5 billion in losses. The provincial inspectorate office has claimed to have found 37 corruption cases linked to the mayor, inflicting Rp 2.3 billion in state losses. (amd)