Official charged with abusing Japanese aid

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Former head of the Lampung plantation office Tibrizi Asmarantaka was arrested after being accused of embezzling Rp 15.8 billion (US$1.6 million) from Japanese assistance funds connected to the Overseas Economic Cooperation project.

Lampung Prosecutor's Office spokesman Zaidar Raepta said Tibrizi was arrested on Tuesday and would be in detention until May 12.

The detention was necessary to prevent the suspect from fleeing the investigation or destroying the evidence against him, he added.

The corruption case has also implicated Lampung Governor Oemarsono. However, he denied any wrongdoing and said he could not be held responsible for the disbursement of the funds.

"It was a national project run by the Ministry of Forestry and Plantations in 1998, so it's ridiculous if others say that I was involved in the administration of the project. I have never signed anything," he argued. --JP