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