S. Kalimantan governor, NGOs at odds over assets

Yuliansyah, The Jakarta Post, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan

South Kalimantan Governor Sjachriel Darham filed an official complaint with the local police against an activist who, along with several local non-governmental organizations, reported to the Public Servants' Wealth Audit Commission (KPKPN) that the governor owned five opulent houses and luxury cars.

The governor could face dismissal if it is found that he does own the assets and that they were not reported to the independent KPKPN.

"I am suing Syamsul Daulah, coordinator of the Indonesian Reform Movement, because he claimed I own luxurious assets that I failed to report to the KPKPN. All the reports are groundless and total slander," he said here on Saturday.

Sjachriel's lawyers, Cucu Sanjaya and Gt. Faudiadi, conceded that their client was uncomfortable with the report on his assets and called it character assassination to make local people lose confidence in the provincial administration.

"We want Syamsul to produce evidence that our client possesses a number of opulent houses and luxury cars. If he fails to do so, the police should continue the legal process to bring him to court for slander," said Sunjaya.

Syamsul, coordinator of the Indonesian Reform Movement (Gerindo), and several local NGOs reported to KPKPN recently that Sjachriel possessed five luxurious houses in Jakarta, Malang and Banjarmasin and several luxury cars that he failed to report to KPKPN following his inauguration as governor.

The spokesman for the South Kalimantan Police, Sr. Comr. Taufiq Sugiono, confirmed that the police had received a complaint from the governor's lawyers, but said the police were still studying the case.

"We will summon all witnesses while developing the case," he said, adding that the governor should also prove that he did not own the houses and cars as claimed by the NGOs.

KPKPN said it was still auditing the governor's assets.

If the claims against Sjachriel are proven true, he could face corruption charges.

Syafrian Noor, coordinator of the People's Suffering Action Front (Keppera), challenged the governor to prove his innocence in court. "I am ready to testify in court that the governor is corrupt."

Sjachriel and his deputy were removed by the provincial legislative council last year, but Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno ignored the dismissals, saying provincial and regency legislatures had no authority to dismiss governors or regents because they were installed by the President.