Police to probe graft, terror link

Police to probe graft, terror link

JAKARTA: The National Police said on Friday that they would
investigate the caretaker regent of Poso in Central Sulawesi and
four of his alleged accomplices over corruption and terror
attacks.

The investigation would seek information on whether there was
a link between corruption and the bomb attacks on the offices of
local non-governmental organizations campaigning against graft in
Poso, explained National Police chief of detectives Comr. Gen.
Makbul Padmanegara.

However, he did not say when the questioning of the caretaker
regent, Asikin Suyuti, and his men would start.

The offices of a number of local NGOs were attacked a couple
of months ago. All were investigating Asikin's alleged role in
misuse of aid funds for the rebuilding of displaced persons'
homes in Poso.

Makbul said the police would submit a request to the Supreme
Court to have the corruption and terrorism cases tried in Jakarta
a fair trial in the troubled regency of Poso could not be
guaranteed following a series of attacks on Christians there. --
JP