Three Cirebon council leaders stand trial on corruption charges

Three Cirebon council leaders stand trial on corruption charges

Nana Rukmana, Cirebon, West Java

After a year-long investigation, three suspects in the corruption
case involving the 2001 Cirebon budget went on trial on Monday.

The opening hearing was marred by protests held by hundreds of
supporters of the three defendants: Cirebon municipal council
speaker Suryana -- who was reelected as a House of
Representatives legislator in the April 5 election -- and his two
deputies, Sunaryo and Harris Sutarmin.

The protest prompted local police to heighten security for the
trial, presided over by judge Hardjono.

In the indictment read out by prosecutors Suharja and Eman
Sulaeman, the three defendants were accused of violating Law No.
31/1999 on corruption by abusing their positions and violating
Government Decree No. 110/2000 on council budget by embezzling Rp
997.8 million (US$105,031) in operational funds.

The prosecution said according to the decree, the Cirebon
municipal administration should have allocated a maximum Rp 400
million in operational funds to the councillors, in proportion
with a Rp 23 billion revenue.

However, the 2001 Cirebon budget had allocated Rp 1.39 billion
to councillors.

The councillors should have thus returned Rp 997.8 million to
the local government, but Cirebon Council leaders instead
distributed the excess fund to its 30 councillors.

The prosecution said Suryana received Rp 38.8 million, Sunaryo
Rp 38 million and Harries Sutamin Rp 44.4 million. The remaining
27 councillors each received between Rp 31.5 million and Rp 35.5
million.

"The councillors have violated the Anticorruption Law," said
prosecutor Suharja.

After the hearing, Suryana told reporters that the prosecution
was biased, as the Cirebon administration's executive branch
should also be held responsible for the corruption, for approving
the 2001 budget.

The trial has been adjourned until next week, when the court
will hear the defense's plea.

The case dates back to 2001, but came to light only last year
when the Cirebon Prosecutor's Office began investigating the
alleged corruption. Aside from the three now on trial, seven
others from the Cirebon Council's budget committee were named
suspects.

However, the number of suspects could rise, as the
prosecutor's office is questioning 20 more councillors in
connection with the case.