Official's wife arrested

BANJARNEGARA, Central Java: Lala, the wife of the chief of Kalibening district, is being questioned by police on suspicion of embezzlement of nearly Rp 3.5 million (U$1,500) of government funds.

Bambang Momok, the head of Banjarnegara police's intelligence division, told The Jakarta Post that Lala may have embezzled the money from the residents of 23 villages, whom she had asked to buy sign boards for the family welfare movement.

The money was reportedly used by the 43-year-old woman to fund personal recreation and shopping sprees in the nearby towns of Purwokerto and Semarang.(wah/mds)