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.