Puteh says corruption charges baseless

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)