Padang takes up councillors' graft case

Padang takes up councillors' graft case

PADANG, West Sumatra: Prosecutors on Friday submitted the case
files of three council chairpersons, accused of embezzling
state funds, to the prosecutor's high office in Padang, setting
the stage for a high-profile trial.

Chairman of the West Sumatra legislature Arwan Kasri and his
two deputies Titi Nazif Lubuk and Masfar Rasyid are allegedly
involved in the irregularities found in last year's provincial
budget. The amount of funds they allegedly abused is still
unknown.

Padang Chief Prosecutor Tarmizi Mal said that with the
transfer of the dossiers, his office could start appointing the
eight prosecutors for the case.

Evidence delivered to the Padang prosecutor's office included
cassette tape recordings of provincial council meetings on the
regional budget and 2002 expenditure records. -- JP