Temanggung regent tossed in slammer, to face graft trial
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.