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.