Semarang regent offers bribes

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.