Police offer help in royal dispute

Police offer help in royal dispute

CIREBON, West Java: Police here offered their help to prove the
validity of the late Cirebon sultan's will, which was at the
center of a royal dispute that resulted in last month's double
crowning of two heirs claiming the same crown.

"If we were asked to verify the will of the Kanoman Palace, we
would certainly honor the request," said Adj. Sr. Comr Siswandi
on Friday.

The eleventh sultan of the kingdom, Prince Haji Muhammad
Djalaluddin, died last year. His family has since been in dispute
over who should follow him.

In his will, he appointed Saladin as his successor. The son of
one of Djalaluddin's concubines, Saladin faces opposition from
Muhammad Emirudin, the queen's first son.

Kanoman tradition recognizes only Emirudin as the twelfth
sultan, but this has become difficult due to Djalaluddin's will.

Saladin and Emirudin were both crowned last month in separate
ceremonies deemed illegitimate by the palace's council of
patrons. As of yet, neither is willing to relinquish his crown.

"We can check whether the testament is authentic or not, but
we can't say whether it's valid," said Siswandi. -- Antara