Suspects named in Jambi graft case

Jon Afrizal, Jambi

Jambi Police announced on Monday they have named three suspects in a Rp 5.2 billion (US$577,777) graft case in Sarolangung regency.

The money was allocated in the regental budget to finance the Ponton port development project.

The three suspects are project chief Bustami, contractor Ayong alias Suwandi and an unidentified supervisor.

Sarolangun Regent M. Madel would likely be grilled in the corruption scam if new evidence was found to show his alleged involvement, Jambi Police chief of detectives Sr. Comr. Budi Harsono said.

"We will continue investigating the case based on statements from the suspects," he added.

Budi said charges were laid against the suspects after several witnesses were questioned, who were directly or indirectly involved in the port project.

The case was uncovered after a 55-meter-long and 12-meter-wide bridge, which was built in 2003 as part of the project, collapsed recently.

The Sarolangun administration insisted the bridge had collapsed due to flooding, which had damaged its foundation.

Many officials of the Jambi administration and local residents, however, were unconvinced by that argument.

Jambi Governor Zulkifli Nurdin asked the police to investigate the construction of the bridge and to find out who was responsible.

The governor said he was ready to issue the necessary permits for the police to summon local senior officials implicated in the alleged scam.