Suspended mayor refuses to hand over post

Suspended mayor refuses to hand over post

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Marim Purba, who was suspended as mayor of Pematang Siantar
municipality in North Sumatra, despite his acquittal of graft
charges, shunned a meeting in which he was to have transferred
the post to his deputy Kurnia Rajasa Saragih on Friday.

The ceremony, held in a closed-door meeting at the City Hall,
was only attended by around 20 local officials, including the
head of the municipality's administrative affairs, Akhir Harahap.

Those present included deputy speaker of the Pematang Siantar
legislative council Suwardi, Sr. Comr. M. Zien who represented
the local police chief and R. Nainggolan, representing the local
prosecutor's office.

But, in an move that seemed to oppose Marim's suspension,
North Sumatra Governor Tengku Rizal Nurdin did not show up at the
meeting. Normally, the governor swears in the mayor or regent
elected by the local legislative council.

Earlier on Thursday, at least 116 key officials of the
Pematang Siantar administration rejected Marim's suspension and
declared that he was still the legitimate mayor.

But Suwardi told the Jakarta Post after the event that, "The
transfer-of-post ceremony was smooth and legal, even though it
was not attended by Marim Purba, as he was officially invited."

He said that decree No. 132.22-528 dated Oct. 6, 2003 had been
read out at the ceremony. The decree issued by Minister of Home
Affairs Hari Sabarno orders the suspension of Marim and appoints
Kurnia as his replacement.

Kurnia then signed a document on the transfer of the post,
Suwardi added.

Responding to the ceremony, Marim claimed he remains the
legitimate mayor until after the North Sumatra governor endorses
his suspension.

However, it is not clear whether he will continue in his
capacity as mayor after the ceremony.

In fact, as the ceremony was taking place, Marim was
apparently officiating an event in the town as the mayor.

He said that he and Kurnia would meet the governor to discuss
the ministerial decree.

Marim was temporarily dismissed after he was incriminated in
the markup of the Horas market construction project involving Rp
700 million (US$82,352) last year. However, a district court
recently acquitted him of charges of corruption.