Temanggung regent tossed in slammer, to face graft trial

Slamet Susanto, The Jakarta Post, Temanggung

Officers from the Central Java provincial prosecutor's office detained Temanggung regent Totok Ary Prabowo on Thursday to pave the way for a speedy prosecution against him in a graft case.

Even though the regent refused to sign the arrest warrant, the prosecutors nabbed him and took him directly to Temanggung penitentiary, where he will stay for at least 20 days.

Totok resisted the arrest on the grounds that the prosecutors did not obtain permission from the President.

"His detention is aimed at expediting the prosecution, therefore we do not need such permission. The permit is only required to launch the initial investigation," said Slamet Wahyudi, the assistant to chief prosecutor for special crimes.

Totok is likely to stand trial soon for his role in the alleged embezzlement of billions of rupiah in election funds taken from the regency's budget last year.

"As of today, his status is no longer a suspect. He's a defendant. He may have tried to stall the trial if we had not put him in custody," Slamet said.

He added that the prosecutors were completing their indictment against Totok, whose nomination as the regent was backed by the Golkar Party.

The regent sparked a controversy when he dismissed dozens of local government employees just a few days after he took office earlier this year.

A wave of protests followed his decision, including from local councillors who finally filed a vote of no confidence against him and demanded his dismissal earlier this month.

One of Totok's lawyers, Jawadi Hafidz, insisted that the prosecutors needed to have the President's written permission to detain his client. Jawadi said the lawyers would request Totok's release, citing his duties as a regent.

Law No. 32/2004 on Regional Administration says the detention of a regional administration head, who has been named a suspect, requires a written letter from the President.

"We will discuss all possible legal moves, including a request for his release from detention," Jawadi said.

He also said he suspected "political motives" prompted the detention.