Three council leaders stand trial for graft

Jongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Manado

Three newly reelected North Sulawesi councillors stood trial at the Manado District Court here on Monday on charges of misusing some Rp 9.6 billion (US$1.06 million) from Manado's 2003 budget.

Day one of the trial saw the defendants; former Manado municipal legislative councillor speaker JE Tampi from the Golkar Party and his two deputies -- Jafar Alkatiri from the United Development Party (PPP) and Jermia Damongilala from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle -- face a packed courtroom to hear the prosecutor's opening arguments.

Tampi was recently elected as the North Sulawesi provincial council speaker and Jermia reelected as a deputy Manado council speaker, while Jafar was named as the chairman of a joint faction on the municipal legislature.

Another former deputy speaker of the Manado council, Diyen DB Wulur, from the military and police faction, will soon be tried separately for the same case.

Former budget committee members in the council could also be implicated in the case, prosecutor Zemy Leihitu said.

He told the court, which sat at about 11 a.m., that Tampi, Jafar and Jermia were guilty of marking up the 2003 budget for the Manado council's expenses, which caused some Rp 9.6 billion in state losses.

The defendants were responsible for fund allocations not covered in Government Regulation No. 110/2000, the reference for drafting the council expenses budget, Zemy said.

He said the irregularities included allotting Rp 4.5 billion for the council's operational funds, Rp 30 million for disseminating propaganda and information as well as documentation, Rp 250 million for councillors' welfare, Rp 545 million to support activities of councillors and Rp 4.8 billion for their mobilization funds.

"The Manado council leaders initially said the Rp 4.8 billion mobilization fund was to purchase four official cars, but the money was distributed to all 40 council members, with each receiving Rp 120 million.

"The remaining Rp 5 billion funds were pocketed by the four council leaders," Zumy told the courtroom full of hundreds of visitors.

The prosecutor said the councillors violated Article 2 (1) of Law No. 31/1999 on corruption eradication and Article 55 (1) of the Criminal Code on graft.

"The former council leaders are threatened with a maximum life sentence or minimum penalty of four years in jail and fine of Rp 200 million each," he said.

Zemy said he had been the victim of intimidation and threats from supporters of the defendants who were pressuring him to abandon the trial.

Corruption is widespread in regional councils across the country, with many legislators convicted, standing trial or under investigation by prosecutors and police.