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.