Sutiyoso nets phony Megawati in funds sting

Damar Harsanto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Apparently set on taking the city's intrepid busway founder for a ride, a housewife tried to get her hands on Jakarta's emergency election funds, but Governor Sutiyoso was having none of it.

The woman, identified as Noor Rahayu, 59, telephoned Sutiyoso at his residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, on Thursday morning and introduced herself as President Megawati Soekarnoputri.

"She tried to imitate Megawati's voice and straightaway asked me for the money. That's unusual and it raised my suspicions," he said.

Sutiyoso became convinced the caller was a phony when she addressed him as Pak (sir) instead of the usual Mas (elder brother in the Javanese language).

"I led her along by asking how she would pick up the money. She said she would send a close aide called Noor Rahayu to my office on Friday," Sutiyoso later told reporters after the event.

Clad in a red suit and skirt, Noor came to City Hall and was shown into a guest room to meet Sutiyoso, who was accompanied by Jakarta Public Order Agency head Soebagio and three police detectives.

Sutiyoso and Noor then chatted for about 20 minutes.

Noor said she needed Rp 150 billion (US$17.4 million) to be given to the Jakarta General Elections Commission. This is exactly the amount of money the city administration has allotted for emergency election funds.

The woman also asked for another Rp 38 billion to finance a Jakarta Police intelligence operation.

Instead of obtaining the money, Noor Rahayu received an envelope from the retired general that containing a piece of paper reading as follows: "150 M rupiah. Kami tidak sebodoh yang Anda kira. Sorry, ya. (Rp 150 billion. Sorry. We are not as dumb as you think).

The police arrested the woman and took her to Gambir police station for further questioning.