Semarang regent offers bribes

UNGARAN, Central Java: Semarang Regent Soedijatno, under police investigation in connection to a corruption case, tried to bribe local United Development Party (PPP) legislators, a PPP official said on Tuesday.

Head of the PPP faction at the local legislature, Abdul Halim, told Antara Soedijatno had offered Rp 500 million (US$56,200) in exchange for PPP silence on his alleged involvement in the corruption case.

"He said it was elections-related financial aid. We refused it because the money would not boost our votes... (it would be) a disaster," Halim said.

Antara did not confirm the alleged bribery attempt from Soedijatno.

Police will resume their questioning of Soedijatno on Wednesday.

The regent was allegedly involved in the embezzlement of billions of rupiah of a fund allocated for a water installation project in an integrated city to be built in the town.

Former director of the city water company, Achmad Budi Supriyanto, has been named a suspect in the corruption case.