Senior councillor held in graft case in Padang

Kasparman, The Jakarta Post, Padang, West Sumatra

A deputy speaker of the West Sumatra legislative council, Masfar Rasyid, has been detained as a suspect on charges of corruption and abuse of power.

The councillor, who represents the United Development Party (PPP), was taken to the Muara Padang prison by local prosecutors on Wednesday evening.

"The arrest has been made in line with legal procedures," prosecutor Khaidir Ramli told journalists at the jail, arguing that Masfar had been detained for trying to hinder the investigation. Khaidir did not elaborate.

Masfar, a former lawyer, is one of a number of local legislators who have been accused of involvement in irregularities in funding allocations under last year's West Sumatra budget. It is still unclear how much money he allegedly embezzled.

The drafting of the budget, in which the suspects were involved, reportedly failed to comply with Government Regulation No. 110/2000 on funding allocations for the council.

Prosecutors have also investigated council speaker Arwan Kasri and his other deputies, Syahrial and Titi Nazif Lubuk, as well as members of the budget committee.

But only Masfar was arrested for his alleged move to thwart the laying of corruption charges against him following a report from a local non-governmental organization, the Forum of Concerned Citizens in West Sumatra (FPSB).

Before being put behind bars, the suspect had challenged prosecutors to arrest him if they considered he had tried to obstruct the investigation.

Prosecutor Khaidir said the charges against Masfar carried up to five years in prison for trying to obstruct justice.

Rusdi Zein, chief lawyer for the provincial legislative council, admitted he was surprised by the arrest of Masfar, but said his client would respect the legal process.

"We will abide by the law and will seek to release Pak Masfar from detention soon through legal procedures," he added.

Rusdi said there was no need to detain Masfar as he believed that his client would not attempt to flee or to interfere with evidence.

"He is a public figure and it's inconceivable for him to flee," the lawyer said.

On Wednesday, none of his colleagues from the legislature turned up to visit Masfar in detention.

Only Masfar's wife and children, as well as several of his staff members in the council, came to the prison bringing food, medicine and other essentials. The prison is home to at least 466 prisoners and detainees.