Regent fails to appear for questioning

Fri, 18 Oct 2002, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Riau Islands Regent Huzrin Hood, a suspect in the
misappropriation of Rp 87.2 billion, failed to turn up for
questioning at the Riau Prosecutor's Office on Thursday.

His lawyers said their client was "very busy".

Lawyer Syamsul Rakan Chaniago said that his client wished to
heed the summons, but business had caused him to miss it. Huzrin
then asked Syamsul and fellow lawyer AB Purba to appear at the
prosecutor's office.

"The summons came late on Wednesday when Huzrin had just
arrived from Jakarta. He did not have enough time to go to
Pekanbaru (the capital of Riau)," Syamsul was quoted by Antara as
saying.

Syamsul and Purba also checked the validity of President
Megawati Soekarnoputri's approval for prosecutors to question
Huzrin.

Riau Prosecutor's Office spokesman D. Siallagan said his
office accepted Huzrin's absence and would issue a second
summons.

Siallagan said that Huzrin would be questioned by next Tuesday
at the latest.

According to Siallagan, the office has set up a team to
investigate the misuse of Rp 87.2 billion allotted for regency
development. The team comprises prosecutors Farid Hariyanto,
Sugianto, Adityawarman and Irnensip.

Tabrani Rab, a member of the regional Autonomy Advisory
Council (DPOD) from the province, submitted to the President a
written proposal that Huzrin be temporarily suspended while the
scandal is being investigated.

He described it as the biggest scandal in the regional
autonomy era, saying that an audit by the State Audit Agency had
led to the conclusion that the money was spent to seek political
support from both the province and Jakarta for the establishment
of Riau Islands province.

The House of Representatives (DPR) and home minister Hari
Sabarno voiced agreement to the establishment of the new province
last month.

However, its realization is likely to meet with opposition
from the Riau administration and provincial legislative council
(DPRD) as well as from people on some of the islands.

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