Megawati allows police to quiz Puteh
Megawati allows police to quiz Puteh
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Banda Aceh
President Megawati Soekarnoputri has approved a police
investigation into Aceh Governor Abdullah Puteh in connection
with multiple corruption cases involving his administration.
National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar said he had received
on Thursday evening the letter permitting the police to grill
Puteh as a witness in the alleged markup in the purchase of power
generators in 2002, which caused Rp 30 billion (US$3.3 million)
in state losses.
"Since we've secured presidential permission, we will
interrogate him as soon as possible. We will question him
regarding the purchase of the power generators," Da'i said after
Friday prayers at his office.
Megawati has appointed Puteh the administrator of the state of
civil emergency in Aceh, which has been plagued by decades of
rebellion.
The police have named local businessman William Taylor a
suspect in the case. Taylor's testimony led the police to Puteh,
Da'i added.
The police expect to link Puteh to other alleged corruption
cases in the province after they complete the generator case,
Da'i added.
Reports of the alleged corruption cases have circulated since
last year, when the government imposed martial law in the
poverty-ridden, resource-rich province.
The central government had turned a deaf ear to mounting
demands for an investigation into the governor. Puteh has denied
playing any role in graft, labeling the calls for investigation
into his involvement as defamation.
He sought protection from the House of Representatives due to
the growing demands for an investigation into him.
On Thursday, Puteh reiterated he was innocent and said he had
been tried by the press.
Previously, the Aceh Police named 42 provincial administration
officials suspects in the corruption cases, including the alleged
markup in the purchase of a Russian Mi-2 helicopter in 2002.
The Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) is expected to
question three Aceh councillors in connection with the helicopter
scandal next week.
"We expect to get firsthand information about the issue from
councillors knowledgeable about the transaction," Erry Riyana
Hardjapamekas, KPK deputy chairman, told reporters at his office
on Friday.
Aceh administration officials, including Puteh, are subject to
the questioning, Erry said.
The commission, he added, hopes to disclose the suspects in
the case within two weeks.
The commission has secured preliminary evidence to probe the
case, Erry said without elaborating.
The Aceh administration reportedly bought the chopper for some
Rp 12 billion, while the Navy purchased the same item for only Rp
6 billion.
In Banda Aceh, Aceh Prosecutor's Office chief Andi Amir Ahmad
told reporters that three provincial administration officials had
also been summoned by the KPK for questioning in Jakarta.
"We received a copy of the letter from the KPK to Governor
Puteh. They have been summoned by the KPK," he said.
The councillors are legislature speaker Muhammad Yus and his
deputies Bahrum Manyak and Moersyid Minosra while the officials
are head of Aceh administration's supply and procurement division
Syahruddin M. Gadeng, treasurer T. Lizam and procurement director
Khalid.
Andi said the KPK had taken over the investigation from his
office.