Police release suspect in Depok council graft case

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A suspect in a graft case at the Depok Council, retired Navy officer Moch. Amin, was released on Monday after more than one month in Jakarta Police detention.

Eighteen other suspects in the case are still being detained.

The retired lieutenant colonel was escorted from detention at about 12 p.m. by four uniformed Navy personnel.

Amin, who was wearing a batik shirt, hurriedly entered a waiting minivan to avoid reporters.

Police officers refused to make an official statement, but sources close to the investigation said the suspect insisted that only Navy investigators had the right to question him because he was an active officer when the alleged graft took place in 2002.

The police earlier released Amin's colleagues, active Air Force officer Lt. Col. Saliman Mireja and Army Lt. Col. (ret) Ali Sumaris.

In addition to the three military officers, the police have named 19 other suspects in a Rp 9 billion (US$1 million) graft case at the Depok Council in 2002.

One of the suspects, Manahan Erwin Limbong, is not being detained because of health problems.

The suspects are accused of abusing the council's budget to pay personal expenses such as insurance premiums, fuel for private cars, house loans and cellular phone bills.

Police are preparing to question another 23 former Depok councillors over the graft allegations.