Puteh says corruption charges baseless

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

After twice missing hearings for asthma and heart treatment, suspended Aceh governor Abdullah Puteh appeared at the Anticorruption Court on Monday. He defended his decision to place state money allocated to buy a helicopter in his personal bank account.

Puteh said as governor he had the authority to keep such money in his personal account and to make transactions without involving the provincial treasurer, in accordance with the regulations.

Ministerial Decree No. 29/2000 says the governor is the highest authority in the management of provincial budgets and must account for use of budgetary funds to the provincial legislature.

Puteh is charged with embezzling Rp 13,6 billion (US$1.47 million) in state money raised from provincial and regental budgets for the purchase of a Russian-made Mi-2 helicopter in 2002. He is facing a life sentence and a Rp 1 billion fine.

"As the highest authority, a governor is allowed to delegate procurement of materials and sign a transaction himself," he told the panel of judges led by Kresna Menon.

Puteh admitted that the provincial treasury had placed Rp 7,7 billion into his account for him to pay PT Putra Pobiagan Mandiri (PPM), which brokered the chopper's purchase.

Puteh said it would take him a long time to explain the entire payment process and the flow of accountability for the money as the procurement process was not over yet even though the helicopter had been delivered.

The governor is the first state official to stand trial at the Anticorruption Court. He was admitted to MH Thamrin Hospital in Central Jakarta for a week after complaining of asthma and heart problems. (006)