Prosecutors grill 'ill' Taufik

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The Jakarta Prosecutor's Office have taken the chairman of the Jakarta Elections Commission (KPU Jakarta) Muhammad Taufik from the Agung Hospital in Manggarai, South Jakarta. Taufik is a suspect in the alleged embezzlement of Rp 168 billion (US$17.5 million) in funds for the 2004 elections.

Taufik, with a drip attached to his arm, was taken by prosecutors at 9:30 a.m. after a team of doctors with the office examining Taufik declared him fit for questioning.

Taufik faces detention for at least 20 days with prosecutor's office chief Rusdi Taher issuing an arrest warrant for Taufik on Tuesday.

"Should the team of doctors from the office declare Taufik healthy, we will immediately arrest him," Rusdi had said.

Apart from the former activist and co-founder of the non- governmental organization Jakarta Study Center (PPJ), prosecutors have named two persons as suspects in the same case: treasurer Neneng Euis Palupi and commission member A. Riza Patria.

Neneng has been detained at the Pondok Bambu woman's detention center in East Jakarta since Tuesday, while Riza has yet to be detained.

Prosecutors detained Neneng because they say that she attempted to conceal evidence by moving four cardboard boxes containing documents from the KPUD office, which has been sealed off by prosecutors.