Payakumbuh mayor suspended

Payakumbuh mayor suspended

PADANG, West Sumatra: Home Affairs Minister Hari Sabarno has
suspended Payakumbuh Mayor, Darlis Ilyas, who is accused of
corruption by his fellow councillors.

West Sumatra's Deputy Governor Fachri Ahmad confirmed on
Wednesday that the suspension was confirmed in a ministerial
decree on March 20.

"I cannot tell you the details. As the letter was addressed to
West Sumatra governor, I have to give it first to him. If you
have any questions just ask the governor," he said, adding the
governor had been away in Jakarta.

He also refused to explain why the mayor was suspended.

The mayor and the Payakumbuh councillors have been in dispute
for two years.

The council accused Darlis of corrupting billions of rupiahs
from Payakumbuh budget, but the mayor denied any wrongdoing.

The council has also rejected the mayor's accountability
reports for two years.

The West Sumatra provincial administration intervened by
setting up a special team to investigate the case and reported
its findings to the Ministry of Home Affairs. --Antara