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