Suspects sworn in as new councillors

Suspects sworn in as new councillors

MAKASSAR, South Sulawesi: Hundreds of students staged a
protest as the 74 new members of the South Sulawesi legislative
council were sworn in on Thursday, including at least 13
councillors accused of corruption.

A total of 37 of the councillors were reelected, including the
13 graft suspects, in the April 5 legislative elections.

Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno has so far refused to
give the police necessary permission to question the 13
councillors on charges of involvement in a graft scam in which it
is alleged that Rp 18.23 billion (US$2.02 million) was embezzled
from the province's 2003 budget.

The protesters criticized the authorities for going through
with the inauguration, which was tightly guarded.

There was supposed to be a total of 75 council members
installed on Thursday. The swearing-in of one councillor,
Burhanuddin, was delayed as he is being investigated for his
alleged role in vote-rigging during the April election. --JP