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