Puteh corruption case goes to KPK
Tiarma Siboro, Jakarta
The Aceh Police chief says he will hand over a case of alleged corruption involving Governor Abdullah Puteh to the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) as soon as the police have uncovered sufficient evidence against him.
"The KPK is very interested in this case, and fully supports the efforts to process the case legally. As soon as we obtain prima facie proof of his involvement in corruption, we will ask the KPK to question him," Insp. Gen. Bachrumsyah Kasman said.
Three high profile cases -- the purchase of a Russian helicopter, used printing machine and the procurement of cars for the members of the local legislature -- are being handled by the Banda Aceh prosecutor's office, Bachrumsyah said after attending a meeting on political and security affairs here on Thursday.
Present at the meeting were, among others, acting coordinating minister for political and security affairs Hari Sabarno, TNI chief Gen. Endriartono Sutarto, Governor Puteh, Aceh martial law administrator Maj. Gen. Endang Suwarya, head of the Aceh Prosecutor's Office Andi Mahmud, and the speaker of the Aceh legislature, Tgk. Mohammad Yus.
A report obtained by The Jakarta Post showed that the purchase price of a Russian-made Mi-2 PLC Rostove Mill helicopter had been marked up to Rp 12.6 billion from the original price of Rp 6.1 billion in 2002.
The report also revealed that in 2003 the governor handed over loans of Rp 75 million to each of the 53 provincial councillors to buy cars but the lawmakers never repaid the money.
Also in 2002, the Aceh Administration purchased used printing machines at a cost of Rp 4.2 billion. The machines, however, were not functioning.
Bachrumsyah said the police and prosecutors had decided to hand over the cases to the KPK as the commission had the authority to summon the governor without seeking the permission of the president.
Under the relevant legislation, the newly established KPK has the authority to summon officials accused of corruption without necessarily securing permission from the president, and to press charges against them in court.
Puteh held a closed-door meeting with the members of the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I on security affairs here on Thursday, one day after he sought protection from lawmakers.
Briefing the press after the meeting, Puteh dismissed the corruption allegations as slander.
"I reiterate that the allegations are not true, I have never been involved in corruption. These accusations are slanderous, and I am ready to be questioned," he said.
Bachrumsyah also said that police in Aceh were still investigating 42 corruption cases involving the local administration, including alleged misappropriation of Rp 30 billion (US$3.4 million) earmarked for electricity generators.
"The Aceh martial law administration has investigated possible corruption involving officials in the administration. We (the police) have followed up on the reports and questioned six officials, including the head of the finance department, and his partner, Wiliam.
"William has been named a suspect, while the others have been released," Bachrumsyah said.
President Megawati Soekarnoputri placed Aceh under a state of martial law in May 2003 in a bid to quell a secessionist movement spearheaded by the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), which has been fighting for independence for the resource-rich province since 1976. Over 10,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed since then.