President allows probe into regents

JAKARTA: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given his consent for the police to investigate and detain two regents for alleged corruption of public funds, making them likely to become the first serving regents to be detained in the country.

With the consents, which were issued separately on Saturday and before the Idul Fitri holiday, the police can now investigate and detain the Jayawijaya regent in Papua and the Marowali regent in Central Sulawesi for questioning over suspected graft cases, presidential spokesman Andi Mallarangeng said.

"This is the first time in our history that the president has approved a request from the police to detain regents who are still serving and in office," he said.

Andi did not disclose the names of the two regents.

As part of a drive to stamp out corruption, Susilo has given the police or state prosecutors permission to investigate more than 100 serving state officials so far in connection with suspected corruption. -- JP