Prosecutors grill 'ill' Taufik

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.