Mayor faces inquiry over alleged graft

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)