Sutiyoso ready to answer police

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso was ready to face police questioning over alleged corruption involving Rp 4.2 billion earmarked for Jakarta's flood victims, city council spokesman Muhayat said Friday.

"Governor Sutiyoso has received the police summons but we do not know yet the place of the questioning," Muhayat said.

"The questioning can take place at city police headquarters or here at City Hall. We must consider the governor's tight schedule."

The questioning is slated to take place next Tuesday.

The funds, collected during a charity show in March, were later handed to the Institute of Civic Education on Indonesia (ICE on Indonesia), a non-governmental organization.

Police have named ICE on Indonesia's treasurer, Hendrawan, a suspect while its director, Irma Hutabarat, has been named a witness.

The case surfaced when another non-governmental organization, Government Watch (Gowa), accused ICE on Indonesia of swindling the public funds.

Irma has filed a defamation suit against Gowa chairman Farid R. Faqih. -- JP