Police seek to probe regent

JAKARTA: The National Police said on Tuesday they would seek permission from the President to question Central Java's Temanggung Regent Totok Ary Prabowo in a Rp 12.7 billion (US$1.4 million) corruption case.

National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen. Suyitno Landung said in Jakarta that his office had received a report from Central Java Police asking it to draft a letter of request to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

However, before delivering the request, the National Police along with the Central Java Police would examine the local Temanggung Police's case to make sure their investigation was valid, he said.

"Central Java Police have submitted the letter of request (to us) two days ago and today (Tuesday) we ordered our director of the fraud squad to work together with the Central Java Police," Suyitno said.

He expected the examination would be finished by this week. If so, then the National Police would begin drafting the investigation letter, he said.

Suyitno said the letter would include a request to confiscate the assets of the regent, who is being investigated for embezzling Rp 12.7 billion of last year's election funds. -- JP