S. Kalimantan governor, NGOs at odds over assets

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.