Members of more councillors named graft suspects

Hasrul and Luh Putu Trisna Wahyuni, Kendari/Mataram

The prosecution of councillors in Southeast Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara adds to a long list of graft cases implicating council members at the provincial, regional and municipal level, as prosecutors in the two provinces named all of the council members suspects on charges of abusing the provinces' budgets.

Prosecutors in the Southeast Sulawesi capital Kendari named as suspects on Monday 22 members of the regional council, including the council speaker and his deputy, on charges of misusing Rp 1.9 billion (US$212,000) from the provincial budget.

Also on Monday in Cirebon, West Java, the first hearing began in a case involving councillors charged with misappropriating Rp 1.3 billion from the 2001 city budget.

Regarding the West Nusa Tenggara councillors, prosecutors said investigation begun early this year following reports from the public of their suspicions of corruption within the council.

In June, the Attorney General's Office in Jakarta announced it was investigating 200 corruption cases that could implicate councillors throughout the country, with each case leading to potential state losses of Rp 1 billion to Rp 20 billion.

As in Kendari and Mataram, a number of other councils have practically closed shop because of graft charges, as in the case of the West Sumatra provincial legislative council.

In May, 43 of the 55 West Sumatra council members were sentenced to up to two years and three months in prison for misusing Rp 6.4 billion from the provincial budget. All remain free pending appeal.

Prosecutors in Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, said on Monday that apart from the 22 councillors, three other members of the Indonesian Military/National Police faction would undergo further investigation by their superiors.

Among the findings that raised further suspicion, South Sulawesi prosecutor Antasari Azhar said that reports for "comparative study" trips "included the names of deceased members".

Councillors seemed taken aback on Monday. "I just heard the news from you," one of them replied to reporters when asked to comment.

On the same day, in Mataram, the capital of West Nusa Tenggara, 18 councillors were also named suspects on charges of misappropriating Rp 24.2 billion.

All suspects were members of the council's budget committee in the 2001-2002 period, and they include the current governor, Lalu Serinate, who was previously the council speaker.

Last week, all 45 councillors in Riau were named graft suspects, also for abusing the provincial budget.

Earlier in July, prosecutors in Lampung province said they were seeking permission from Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno to summon 61 of the 75 council members regarding the suspected abuse of Rp 23.5 billion from the 2001/2002 provincial budget.

Selected regions/townships/regions where several/most/ all council members were prosecuted/convicted on graft charges in 2004

Regions (Alleged) sum involved Status

Kampar, Riau Rp 1.13 b (US$ 118.42) suspects

Cirebon, West Java Rp 1.3 b suspects

Lampung Rp 23.5 b suspects

Padang, West Sumatra Rp 10.4 b suspects

West Sumatra Rp 6.48 b convicted

Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi Rp 1.9 b suspects

West Nusa Tenggara Rp 24.2 b suspects

From various sources

Cirebon trial - Page 5