Senior Poso official held over aid misuse

Senior Poso official held over aid misuse

Ruslan Sangadji and Rusman, Poso/Samarinda

While in Central Sulawesi, Poso Social Affairs Office head Anwar
Ali has been detained for allegedly embezzling funds earmarked
for refugees; in East Kalimantan, East Kutai Legislative Council
speaker Abdal Nanang has been charged with graft.

Prosecutors said on Wednesday Anwar had been held at the Poso
Penitentiary since Tuesday on charges of misusing Rp 130 million
(US$14,444) in aid, which was intended for refugees forced to
flee sectarian fighting in the troubled town.

"The issue is not whether the nominal amount is big or small,
but the act of misusing aid for refugees. That's why we detained
him," Poso Prosecutor's Office head Raden H. Badri told The
Jakarta Post.

The arrest of Anwar came after several other suspects were
questioned, including his treasurer, Rustam, staff official
Asikin Lasawesi, councillor Idrus Tadji of the Indonesian
Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P), and Poso village head Yanis
Tatombu.

All four claimed Anwar was responsible for the corruption,
Raden said. "So, we have to hold him accountable for his crime",
he added.

The chief prosecutor said his office has completed the
dossiers of Rustam, Idrus Tadji, Asikin Lasawedi and Yanis
Tatombu and would hand them over to the court soon.

Separately, Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdi Dharma
Sitepu said at least five more councillors were being questioned
as witnesses for their alleged roles in the same graft case.

"They will likely be named suspects," he said, although he did
not individually name the councillors concerned.

Hundreds of people fled their homes in Poso when the town
entered two years of sectarian conflict that largely ceased with
the December 2001 peace accord. Most of the refugees have already
returned to Poso, however.

A graft case involving Rp 46.6 billion has scandalized the
East Kutai Council in East Kalimantan province.

Council speaker Abdal Nanang has been named a suspect and his
deputy, Bahrid Buseng, questioned as a witness in the misuse of
funds from the council's secretariat between 2001 and 2002.

East Kutai Prosecutor's Office head Rasidi said that based on
an investigation, Bahrid, of the PDI-P faction, could be named a
suspect.

Other councillors would also be summoned for questioning over
the same case, Rasidi said on Wednesday.

Prosecutors had earlier declared council secretary Darly Yusuf
a suspect in the same scandal. He is standing trial at the East
Kutai District Court.

However, Abdal remains free despite the graft charge. "There
is no need to detain the suspect at present, we are gathering
more evidence," Rasidi said.

If convicted, Abdal could face a maximum punishment of 20
years in prison and a Rp 1 billion fine.
Abdal has denied the charges: "I have never taken even a cent
of the council secretariat's money. The salary I get every month
is enough, my lifestyle is comfortable," he said.

He added, while he would comply should he be summoned by the
prosecution for questioning, he was considering suing the
prosecutors for libel.