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.