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