Police, KPK probe corruption cases involving Puteh

Abdul Khalik and Muninggar Sri Saraswati, Jakarta

The National Police and the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) separately announced on Tuesday they would investigate corruption cases in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) that allegedly involve Governor Abdullah Puteh.

As a start, the police will investigate the alleged markup in the price of new power generators, which reportedly caused Rp 30 billion (US$3.3 million) in state losses, while the KPK will probe into the alleged markup in the purchase of a Russian Mi-2 helicopter that cost Rp 12 billion.

National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Paiman said the police wrote to President Megawati Soekarnoputri on Monday requesting permission to question Puteh as a witness.

"As a state official, Puteh's questioning needs presidential approval. We will use evidence collected by the Aceh Police and the former martial law administration in Aceh," said Paiman.

He added that the police would investigate other corruption cases allegedly involving the governor and other local government officials after they completed the first case and filed it with the prosecutor's office.

Previously, Aceh Police had said there were 42 corruption cases involving officials in the province that needed investigating.

Puteh has been named the administrator of civil emergency since the new status took effect on May 19, ending a year of martial law.

Earlier on Tuesday, Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) chairman Taufiequrrahman Ruki said the commission would supervise the police in the investigation into the alleged corruption in the purchase of power generators.

"We will supervise them. They have sent a summons to Puteh to testify, but they must wait for approval from the President. (If they face difficulties in obtaining the approval) we will take over the case," Ruki announced on Tuesday.

According to the law on the KPK, the commission has the right to summon state officials without approval from the President and to press charges against them in court.

Ruki said the commission would be involved in the investigation into 11 corruption cases in the troubled province.

The commission will prioritize the alleged corruption in the purchase of the Russian Mi-2 helicopter by the Aceh administration.

"We suspect there was a markup as we found the Navy bought a similar chopper for only Rp 6 billion," Ruki said.

The commission plans to question a number of Aceh government officials, including Puteh.

Two other high-profile graft cases related to the purchase of used printing machines and the procurement of cars for the members of the provincial legislature are next to be probed by either the police or the KPK.

A report obtained by The Jakarta Post recently said that in 2003, the governor handed over Rp 75 million in loans to each of the 53 councillors to buy cars, but the lawmakers never paid back the money.

A year before, the Aceh administration bought used printing machines worth Rp 4.2 billion, but they did not work.

Puteh has frequently denied reports of being involved in corruption, calling the reports a move to discredit him. He recently sought protection from lawmakers in Jakarta.