Official named suspect in Rp 18b graft case
Official named suspect in Rp 18b graft case
Andi Hajramurni, The Jakarta Post, Makassar
South Sulawesi Provincial Police named Syamsuddin, the secretary
of the South Sulawesi Legislative Council a suspect, for his role
in the embezzlement of Rp 18.23 billion (US$1.9) of the council's
2003 budget.
Chief of South Sulawesi Police Insp. Gen. Saleh Saaf said that
Syamsudin was declared a suspect after police questioned 24
witnesses, including government officials and former provincial
councillors who served the 1994-2003 term.
According to Saleh, Syamsudin was named a suspect because he
was involved in the making of the 2003 provincial budget and he
also knew precisely where the money went.
The two-star general also added that the police might name
other suspects in the case, depending on the investigation
outcome. "Others can be named suspects, for instance, the
councillors who were involved in the making of the budget," said
Saleh.
Syamsuddin would be summoned for thorough questioning on
Tuesday, said Saleh, but Saleh fell short of saying whether the
suspect would be detained. A suspect can be detained by police
for 20 days for questioning without charges being laid and the
detention period can be extended.
Separately, Syamsuddin said that he only knew of the
announcement from reporters. He said that he was surprised.
"I am merely an administrative officer, and not a decision
maker in the use of the council budget," said Syamsuddin.
He also said that he was not involved in the making of the
2003 provincial council budget as the budget was approved by the
provincial council in June last year.
He stressed that all funds in the 2003 budget had been spent
properly in accordance with regulations.
The high profile corruption case surfaced in June last year,
when Bastian Lubis, a director at Patria Arta Economics College,
exposed the embezzlement of Rp 18.23 billion of the provincial
council's 2003 budget to the public.
According to Bastian, the councillors had embezzled state
money through various means, including allocating money for
fictitious trips.